Missing the Mark

Do you think it is fitting to start the New Year with a column on new beginnings or resolutions? Well if you found those columns appropriate you may want to keep reading as I close the month of January with a column about missing the mark. What do I mean by missing the mark? Simply put, I mean not living up to expectations or not meeting a goal.  
I remember when I used to go to the gym to work out (Yes, I really did). The first few weeks  of January the gym would be packed with folks trying to get healthy. By February the masses had dwindled and it seemed by March it was pretty much back to the same faces as before. So what happened to all those good intentions?
Or how about pews at Church, yes I am going there. Easter and Christmas can sometimes be standing room only while the rest of the year there is plenty of room. Does that mean people only care about God during two parts of the year?
Or how about that diet you were going to start on Monday but by Friday you busted into the kids Christmas candy and ended up gaining two pounds for the week.
Going to the gym takes commitment and discipline. Going to church and reaching your personal goals requires the same thing. For a lot of us it can be easier to commit to something than to have the discipline to follow through.  That doesn’t mean we don’t care or want to succeed it just means we may sometimes miss the mark. Until you are able to make something a habit you will have to work especially hard on your follow through.  
If you made a goal to get healthy and already see yourself losing interest remind yourself that each day you go is more than you did before. Setting short term goals helps facilitate long term success. It may not be easy but if you miss the mark, start again.
If you feel you should routinely be in attendance at your place of worship, get your butt there.
If you ate the kid’s Christmas candy… shame on you. (Just Kidding) Don’t drown your sorrows in a root beer float get back on the horse.  You can do it.  
Just because you miss the mark doesn’t mean the game is over. Pretend you have extra guys and keep going. If you give up and don’t try you are sure to fail. A life filled with your best effort is better than a life filled with regret.