It Is Trish

I like the idea of resolutions, and as was pointed out by my friend yesterday, starting a new year on a Sunday feels all kinds of right when it comes to introducing new habits into your life.  A couple days ago I mentioned that one goal for this year was to travel somewhere alone, but I have two new habits that I also want to throw into the mix.

1. Read the entire Bible using the NLT One Year Chronological Bible

   I bought this ages ago and read through it, though not in a year.  I love the translation being slightly off what I grew up on (NIV) and the way the pages are set up.  It all lends toward making the Bible feel more like a story rather than an instruction manual.  I’m two days in, and already I’ve been struck by how God, as revealed in the creation narrative, is creative, patient, and regenerating.  Which makes me think that as people created in his image, we also ought to be creative, patient, and regenerating.  It’s also fun to read it through my new lens of “this is probably poetry more than history” because I’ve got to tell you, it makes a lot more sense that way.

2. Give up pork

   I’ve been flirting with the idea of becoming a vegetarian for a couple months now.  I just felt like it was weird that I love animals so much but don’t do any kind of reflection on how often I eat them.  I don’t actually think there’s anything morally wrong with eating animals, but I do want to be intentional about it and not just take it for granted.  Anyway, that’s a whole other conversation.

   I wound up realizing that there’s no way I can be a vegetarian because I barely know how to cook and feed myself in a healthy way, and I have no drive to cultivate culinary creativity.  I would wind up eating only power bars and candy and dying of whatever that causes.

   So my compromise is this:  no pork products!  Partly this is because someone told me pigs feel things more than other animals we eat, but mostly this is because I want to learn how to navigate the awkwardness of have food restrictions.  I want to sacrifice in a tiny way, and we’ll see what happens.

I’m always interested in stretching myself and trying new things.  The start of a new year is an excellent time to kick off those goals, though there’s no reason January 23rd couldn’t also be that day for you.

Or if you just, I dunno, want to stay the same forever, then I guess that’s cool too.  Ugh, that sounds like death, it is NOT for me.

Off to read the Bible and avoid pig meat!