HEADED FOR THE GOAL LINE

In a long ago time, I was in a season called Parenthood.  As we recently talked, I have spent a great deal of my life being stretched thin and this season may have been the thinnest--as in flat  as a flitter that has been run over by a steam roller. (You are welcome for not sharing my research on what is a flitter-suffice it to say they are only found in the South).

During this super busy period of time, the father of my children and I had a mutual client who loved to talk about his goals.  He had short term goals, mid term goals, long terms goals and impossible but hey maybe goals.  He actually wrote these things down and checked them off as they were accomplished.   We both would laugh when comparing notes on the latest "What are your goals talk?"  My goal was to drag myself out of the bed, get the children out the door, work a full day, go home cook supper, do homework, continue with the unending laundry chore, put the house back in a semblance of order, get the kids bathed and in bed, and fall in bed myself at late thirty without killing anyone or having the neighbors call the police for the disturbance next door.  I had a simple goal-- make it through the day.

I am back to "The Book".  I just read her chapter on goals.  You will be glad to know I am only picking the chapters which really speak to me and have jumped right over the chapter on sex.  There is certainly not one thing in this world wrong with goals.  As I thought through goals, it became clear to me I have had goals--although I never wrote them down (defense mechanism in case I never reached them I suspect).  

My take away from her chapter was goals are good--not bad, but give yourself a break when you do not reach those goals when you thought you would.  Life is not over and there is always tomorrow.  My current goal in life is to finish well.  The completion of that goal will not be known until the fat lady sings and at the moment she is still back stage dressing.  The best thing the author had to say was "God has perfect timing, and it's highly possible that by not being where you thought you should be (Goals), you will end up exactly where you were meant to be."  She recognized the goals we set for ourselves may not be God's goals, and God's goals are always best.  

So, in my old age my goals have become shorter term (I am no spring chicken) and more centered around seeking what God's plan is for me.  No, I am never going to be a famous author,  I am never going to run faster than the 8 minute mile I accomplished once, and the Prince Charming ship has sailed.  What is still to be seen is how God will use me in the lives of others, the impact I will have on the lives of my grands, and how good a friend I can be to those I am blessed to call friend.  My ultimate goal is to run the good race, fight the good fight and finish while keeping the faith.  If I am able to achieve that goal, all the others will pale in comparison.

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, 

but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

Proverbs 19:21