If I were to ask someone about their summer holidays, 10 out of 10 people would perk right up. They would tell me when they’re leaving, where they’re going, how long they’re going for, who they’re perhaps going with, where they’ll be staying, and all the things they have to do to get ready to go. They could also easily tell me every stop enroute to their destination, and the small detours they’ll most likely make on the way back home.
They’re excited. They can hardly wait. It’s obvious.
What if we planned our lives in the same way we plan for vacation?
It starts with a desire…
I’d like to go away.
It moves to conversation…
Wanna take a trip?
The daydreaming begins…
When should we go?
Where should we go?
Where should we stay?
How long should we go for?
Will this just be our family, or should we invite some friends?
What kind of vacation do we want it to be?
Reality sets in…
Will the kids enjoy this?
Will the kids sleep well?
Will we sleep well?
Who could we vacation with for two whole weeks and still be friends with afterwards?
Will there be lots of fun things to do for the whole two weeks?
How much is this going to cost?
Specific work is required…
Flight comparing.
Seat sale shopping.
Accommodation details.
Travel arrangements.
Family attire requirements.
Detail coordinating with friends.
Marking it as official in the calendar.
Then you live life.
But…
You wake up every morning with a specified goal.
Family Trip to Mexico.
You wake up every morning with a specific date.
February 28, 2014.
You wake up every morning with a specified list of “things to do”.
Check for seat sales.
Book flights.
Secure accommodations.
Rent a car.
Get family passports.
Dig out the beachwear.
Buy sunscreen, new sunglasses, water wings, and boardies for the husband.
Research places to eat, places to go and fun things to do.
What if we planned our lives in the same way we plan for vacation?
It starts with a desire…
It moves to conversation…
The daydreaming begins…
Reality sets in…
Specific work is required…
Then you live life.
But…
You wake up every morning with a specified goal.
You wake up every morning with a specific date.
You wake up every morning with a specified list of “things to do”.
Sometimes in the blur of words, like: life goals, bucket lists, life planning, goal setting and new years resolutions, we think our aspirations need to be these extravagant goals. But they don’t. Setting life goals has nothing to do with grandeur and everything to do with purpose – however big or small they may be. A life plan is an act of self worth to sit down and ask yourself: who do I want to be? What kind of life do I want to live? What kind of legacy do I want to leave? And what sort of structures do I need to put in place to ensure long-lasting results?
What if we planned our lives in the same way we plan for vacation?
What if, when people asked, and we talked about our various life goals, we perked right up?
What if everyone knew we were excited, that we could hardly wait, and it was THAT obvious?
We plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it.
~Proverbs 16:9
