The question that set me off on that one was "How will your life be better next year than it is today?"
At the time, I was shocked to realize how much I'd just been "coasting" through my own life. So I set some goals. Made some plans. I discovered that I'd been afraid that planning ahead meant that in some way I was trying to do God's job. After all, Jesus explicitly said "don't worry about tomorrow."
However, He also told us to be good stewards of our resources. Undoubtedly our time on Earth is one of our most precious resources. If we're going to use that time well, we have to have an eye to the future.
Last week a friend asked me what my 5-year plan looked like.
Never in my life have I had a 5-year plan, unless you count graduating from high school. I don't actually think I can take credit for planning that, though. It's not like I had a choice. My parents always made it clear that I would graduate. If anything, it was their plan.
After high school I went to community college for 2 years, because I had a scholarship.
Then I took a year off. School had always been easy for me. I wanted to really care about my education before I actually started to pay for it. The year off turned into 5. That wasn't planned. It just turned out that college was more expensive than I'd thought.
In year 2 of my "off time" I moved to WA. I was going to stay for two years, then move somewhere else (or return to CO). I stayed in WA for 13 years.
When I finally went back to college, I had a three-year plan. Finish my degree, then get my teaching certificate (a 5th year program). I really didn't think beyond that. As I came to the end of my program I had a major meltdown over the idea of signing a contract for a year. I din't know if I could commit to working in one school, one district for that long. It took my advisor most of a box of tissues to persuade me that a school-year - 180 days - was well within my comfort zone.
180 days. 10 months. I could do anything for 10 months.With my mentor's advice ringing in my ears, I took a job in a small district I didn't expect to be a good fit. I stayed there for 7 years.
Turns out I'm better at long-term than I thought I was.
So, now I'm thinking about my five-year plan.
I'm writing it in pencil, because I've learned that sometimes things change in surprising ways. I know that God's the only one with a clear view of the future. I trust that His plan is the best plan.
I also know that I can handle Him changing my plans. In October, one of the goals I set for myself was to be jogging in a 5K this spring. Then I broke my leg in December, and had to take that goal off the list (for now). It wasn't the end of the world. I'd never stopped to realize it, but one of my strengths is adapting.
I'll be debt-free (except maybe that student loan).
I'll have dozens of new memories of adventures with my family. Parades. Birthdays. Dances. Soccer. TBall. Basketball. Lakes. Beaches.
I'll have a dog who loves to go walking/running with me. Loves taking car trips. Loves my nieces and nephew.
I'll be involved in my local church leadership again.
That's it so far. Not a bad start.
There's more in my head, but I've still got to separate wishes (travel!) from plans (writing). And I know some things are totally out of my control. But in as far as I am able, I'm going to work to make the future count!
She is strong and respected and not afraid of the future. -Proverbs 31:25
