We are officially a full week into 2026, and I have managed to achieve a record: I’ve already broken my New Year’s resolutions before I even had the chance to write them down.
I often wonder what God thinks when He hears me say, “Lord, this is the year I finally embrace a life of perfect moderation.” I imagine there’s a loud chuckle in the heavens.
St. Augustine (and later, folks like Constantine) hit the nail on the head with the wisdom that total abstinence is easier than perfect moderation. That realization has me staring at my reflection of an empty box of chocolates. Why is “just one cookie” a myth, while “the entire bag” feels like destiny?
It turns out that moderation is actually the ultimate high-wire act. It takes constant effort, cognitive calories, and a terrifying amount of mindfulness to stop at “enough.” Meanwhile, taking anything to excess is as easy as falling off a log—or falling into a pile of whipped cream.
So, how do we actually moderate without losing our minds? I think God’s “instruction manual” for this is a three-step process that sounds simple until you actually try it:
- Humility: Admitting that, left to my own devices, I am essentially a squirrel in a nut factory. I need help.
- Generosity: Shifting the focus. It’s a lot harder to overindulge when you’re busy making sure someone else has what they need.
- Unconditional Love: The final piece of the equation. This is the ultimate “moderator”—the kind of love that fills the void we usually try to stuff with cookies, Netflix binges, or ego.
It’s only day seven, but here’s to 2026: a year of aiming for the middle, and trusting that God enjoys the journey as much as we do.
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