Dances With Calendars

It's just a number, just a date, just a change of names, but, regardless, it is a new year. Sometimes it seems pointless to make a fuss about the new year, but this year I feel pulled in a new direction. Why not? What's the harm of resetting and examining my life and its impact? There's none at all, as far as I can tell. This year there's also the challenge of looking at the next ten years, as we begin a new decade. What do I think God wants from me and for me for the next ten years? Is this it? I've been wondering about my whole life recently. Again, this is a good thing. Here's some guidelines for "kicking the tires" on one's life:

1) Pray brief, intense, and frequent prayers (per Martin Luther) without lingering too long on typical prayer fare surrounding personal reflection.

2) Do all the old school goal setting stuff, no matter how cliche it may seem. For example, imagine what's possible if you had no limits. If you could do anything, what would you do? It may feel clunky at first, but dreaming like this is a faith essential. God has little interest in incremental improvements or maintaining status quo. Living by faith isn't for the faint of heart or slackers who love mediocrity. Grandiose dreaming is one of the most effective ways I know of to jump start a lackluster faith or life. Reality, with the Holy Spirit's help, will edit anything that smacks of ego or pride.

3) Forget the past. (Yes, it's that simple, though not that easy. Ask God to help.)

4) Survey your present. Where are you exactly? You can't make any progress until you know. My GPS doesn't work until it tells me where I am. It's the same with our lives.

5) Read, watch, and/or study the biographies of people you admire, people who've done what you feel called by God to do. What did they do that is different from what you are doing? What did they believe that is different from what you are believing?

6) Let someone know your goals or what's changed inside of you that may now change your life's direction. It can be me if you want, just comment here or e-mail me at jtorres@goodwillchurch.org.

7) Always remember those you love and what you want in your life with and for them. This is the hardest one for me because my vocation, as I'm presently navigating through it, tends to leave my family behind. For me, this can't continue. What are the things in your life that can't continue?

May God richly bless you and your family in 2010!