Human beings are wonderfully imaginative. From the day God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden until this moment, every gadget, written word, musical note, painting, landscape, and technological breakthrough came into existence where previously they did not exist. God wove the need to create into the fabric of man’s being. He designed our operating systems, modeled after His own. Exodus 35:35 reads: “He filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiders in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers–all of them skilled workers and designers.”
In 1 Kings 3:12 we learn: “Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.”
Because God is good, your gifts and skills should be used for good: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).
At the start of the new year, you may find yourself making goals; inspired to do a new work in some area of your life. Often the light goes out on these dreams quickly. We get tangled in the enormity of the end-product and the little bitty day-to-day steps needed get lost in the big picture.
I find this true when speaking to parents who have recently received the diagnosis of autism for their son or daughter. Autism is a HUGE word. There are so many complexities to be navigated. Parents become overwhelmed with what to do first. Change the diet, start speech therapy, find an ABA specialist, search out an occupational therapist, call the insurance, schedule a meeting with the school, prepare him for his future, potty train, get a second opinion, listen to this advice, don’t listen to that advice… Everyone has an opinion on how to tackle an autism diagnosis. The elephant of autism takes control and there is no room to navigate anything.
If that is you–overwhelmed by a big something–just know that God has given you what you need to be successful. First, talk to Him daily about it. Second, don’t think you have to solve the thing in one day. Pick one little area where you can do something right now to make a step toward the end result, and do that thing until you are thrilled with it. Then you can look at the next little thing. When my son was diagnosed with autism, I started with speech therapy. One thing. “Let’s teach him how he can let us know what he wants.” And we did that. I took photographs of the common things in his day (milk cup, pooh bear, Oreos), and I modeled continually how to bring me the picture when he wanted something. Everyone else had opinions on that. But I did what I could right there, in the moment. Then we moved to the next thing.
If your goal is to run a 5K, or to walk a mile without stopping, or to run a marathon, start small. Start where you are. Walk to the end of the block and back. Then go a little further. If you have to skip a couple of days, that’s ok. Rest. Then go again.
If your goal is to write a book, you aren’t going to write the whole book in one sitting. Start with a sentence. Start with your outline. Start with naming your character. Start small, but start.
Hear this again: Start small, but start.
Is it here again? So soon? 2019 whooshed by like an express train that didn’t stop at my platform. Am I a better person than I was at the beginning of 2019? Hm. Am I more like Jesus? I’d like to say “yes,” but I know sometimes it’s “no.” That’s the rub with living in this fallen world, where by the daily we become more easily offended, less polite, and more impatient.
Kimberly Soesbee 