New Year's Expectations

I heard a good sermon Sunday morning.  The Pastor introduced the topic at Children's Time when he asked the little ones gathered around him if they got what they expected for Christmas.  He got a resounding chorus of YES!! and each child eagerly told him what he or she had received.  Then he asked if anyone received a gift they didn't expect?  To the now quiet perplexed children, he went on to say unexpected gifts were often more exciting.  The preacher-man opened his grown up sermon with the bold statement "expectations are premeditated resentments."  In our culture of entitlement, we expect a great deal and take very many precious things for granted.  But I don't think he was referring to clean water, safe food, good public health, public safety and the like.  No, he was speaking about more personal expectations. Usually expectations are connected with judgments (what we like or dislike, what is good or bad). An example came quickly to mind--when I give a gift, I expect to receive a thank you and if I don't receive any thanks then I am sorely disappointed.  Judgement kicks in and I doubt whether I chose the right gift.  My unmet expectation was a cause of my resentment.

My mind wandered listening to the sermon to consider how expectations and resolutions (the kind we make this time of year) are similar.   A resolution is like an expectation we place on ourselves to make some change.  A popular resolution/expectation is to take off those holiday extra pounds.  Those who regularly work-out know the crowding at the gym only lasts a couple of weeks into January and then it returns to normal.  It is very human to fail with these kind of resolutions year after year.  I like better the idea of letting go of expectations (and resolutions) because letting go forces me into a state of open-mindedness that demands self-awareness.  It is self-awareness that will lead to making changes.   My resolution this year will be to let go of expectations and to watch with clear eyes to see what happens.  Watching and looking deeply with firm hope in the goodness of God,   it just might be exciting.