Teen 2 Teen

My Lava Lamp Resolution

by Andrew Correli

Here comes another year, bringing with it all sorts of new adventures. And though I have many years ahead of me, I really want to make this one exceptional. Years from now, I want to look back and say, “What an excellent year that was!"

So the first thing I have to do is throw out my list of lame New Year’s resolutions, and come up with something totally different.

by Andrew Correli

Here comes another year, bringing with it all sorts of new adventures. And though I have many years ahead of me, I really want to make this one exceptional. Years from now, I want to look back and say, "What an excellent year that was!"

So the first thing I have to do is throw out my list of lame New Year's resolutions, and come up with something totally different.

The End of Lame Resolutions

I do it every year, and I'm sure you do the same. I create a long list of all the things I need to correct, or do better, or do more often, or do less often, or try harder at, or learn how to do, or... Well, I'm sure you get the picture. The bottom line is, creating a laundry list of my weak points does not a fine resolution make.

An excellent resolution should be something unique. It should at least be fun to think about, and maybe even exciting!

Yes, that's it. I need a resolution that gets me fired up just thinking about it. Something so cool that I can't wait to achieve it. Or at least so profound that its effects are lasting. I need a New Year's resolution that has style, class, and panache -- something with flare! (If you don't know what "panache" is, don't worry. I just stumbled upon it in the thesaurus.)

I need a New Year's resolution that's as cool -- and hot -- as the lava lamp sitting on my desk!

Andrew's Resolution: Be Like the Lava Lamp

And that's it -- exactly. My New Year's resolution is to be like the lava in my lava lamp.

It may sound a bit silly, but let's really think about it for a minute.

Maintain A Solid, Stable Exterior

When the lamp is off, the lava is very solid. It is nice and secure, resting peacefully on the bottom of the lamp. With no heat coming from the bulb, the lava is stable and well grounded. That is the way I would like to be when the heat is down in my life.

When things are going smooth, I should keep myself nice and steady. Many times in the past I have almost created problems when there haven't really been any. It was almost as if I thought that something must be wrong, because it's just not natural for life to be easy.

Don't Let a Little Heat Change Things

When the lamp is turned on and the heat starts to rise, the lava remains solid for a while. Underneath, it is beginning to feel the effects of the heat, but the surface is still smooth and stable. If the lamp is turned off at this point, the lava cools back down and it appears as though the heat had no effect.

When the heat is turned up in my life, I can prepare below the surface for a change. But on the outside I need to maintain that steady, stable calmness. I should not get all bent out of shape over little things -- minor heat -- for life could very quickly cool down again.

When Things Get Hot, Adjust Accordingly

When the lamp is turned on and stays on, the heat really goes up. And though the lava remains solid for a while, it eventually has to adjust. The hottest part rises to the top of the lamp, away from the heat -- but the cooler stuff sinks back into it. Eventually, the hot stuff cools enough to come down and take the place of the stuff that had been absorbing the heat.

Absorb the heat. Reposition to cool off. Go right back into the heat again.

Like the lava, I don't need to keep myself smack dab in the middle of the hottest area of my life. Sometimes I need to loosen up, move around a bit, and get away from the heat. But once I've cooled off and become more stable, I need to dive right back into it. Like the lava, I need to head back into the heat.

Things Won't Always Be Hot

Obviously, my life is not exactly like a lava lamp. There is nobody who turns the heat on or off at his or her pleasure. God is not some cosmic hippie who enjoys watching lava like me squirm around.

In fact, God is the one who can help turn down the heat. My New Year's resolution to be like the lava in a lava lamp needs one minor tweak: I must remember to pray. Especially when life has me scrambling to get away from the heat for a while, I need to remember that the Lord is there for me.

Now if I could only convince him to turn off the heat for good!