We are already a few days into 2024, so my recent editorial in the Hendersonville Standard may encourage you to focus on things more substantial than resolutions.

_______________________________________________

Hug your loved ones tighter. Talk with the neighbor longer. Linger after the church service. Savor that cup of coffee. 

Hendersonville, we have been through a lot in the last few years, culminating with the disruptive tornado on December 9. We deserve a break, and we may need to give ourselves that break.

Why not take a break from a New Year’s resolution? The new year often brings a new set of health, behavior, and development goals. While these can be helpful, if they are unrealistic these expectations can produce disappointment. We have experienced enough frustration in recent times, so this year let’s dwell in contentment. 

“It’s not having what you want; it’s wanting what you’ve got,” sang Sheryl Crowe in her 2002 song “Soak Up the Sun.” An even older thought comes from the apostle Paul who wrote the following almost 2,000 years ago: “For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that” (1 Timothy 6:7–8 NIV).

We are a city of achievers. The future is bright for Hendersonville as people from across the United States are moving here with an affinity for our values and culture. Our schools, businesses, institutions, and churches are rapidly developing. My call to a slower pace in 2024 is not the abandonment of progress but an enjoyment of the journey. We see clearly after the storm that a typical day is a special day. A day that I am not praying for survival is a day that I can learn, serve, laugh, love, and connect with another soul. 

My hope for you in 2024 is for eyes to see the gifts you already possess. May you treasure the relationships that make life meaningful. May you take the scenic route more often, though it may be less efficient. May you reduce the time spent staring at your phone, so you have more time to stare at the sky. 

I pray 2024 does not fly by without depth, but rather, the days will be slower in that satisfying way that makes you feel alive. God has created you as a gift of great value to this world. Life is a gift, and a valuable gift is to be savored, not discarded. This year, we trade discontentment and purposeless hurry for a satisfied life. Let’s do it, Hendersonville!