Challenges and Commitments
I love a good challenge. Something to inspire me, stretch me, spur me to try something new.
Not all challenges become commitments though.
New Years resolutions are well known for enthusiastic commitments that often fail. So I am reluctant to make them.
And commitments sometimes have to be re-evaluated, like how often I write this blog for instance. I’ve made a commitment to blog once a week, but I’ve realised that while that is a good goal, I can give myself a break now and then!
Another commitment I’ve made to myself is to walk daily, often with a lovely walking app I’ve found works for me. So there is no excuse if the weather is bad. So far it’s going pretty well, but I do need friends to keep me accountable.
One of the art groups I belong to on-line asked for a commitment to create an art piece, using the alphabet, letter by letter. You might have seen my “ask” piece, and last week, I posted one on the letter B. It is a good challenge for me to look for verses and then create an art piece with them.

ASK
But I haven’t committed…. Is that a bad thing? I know my life is full, and this is not a priority. But it is lovely to be challenged to be creative, as much as I can find time for it.

Be Kind
My church has also issued a challenge, a competition between age groups to read through the Bible together (a shared effort), and part of the challenge is to find creative ways to use the scripture. So, I’m thinking, two for one, this will work for me! And if I add my art and ideas to my weekly Monday newsletter, I’m three times blessed. 😊
So I’ve completed the ABC’s, and we will see how far this will take me. But the real treasure to be found this week, was just to look again at these words from 1 Peter and let them sink in.

Casting my cares
To let go, to cast my cares and lift them to the Creator, the One who loves me beyond measure. That was the gift of this week.
It is good to be challenged, to make commitments, but ultimately I know that whether I succeed or not, I am loved and cared for. A good gift for us all.