Some Goals for 2009

on this past sunday, i shared my personal goals for the year. they are based on three wrong assumptions that i have continued to make throughout my life as a disciple of christ. this is the year i am going to face those wrong assumptions “head on” and crush them. you watch.

here are the three wrong assumptions:

• “i’ve got plenty of time” – this is one of the grandest of all deceptions. we think we have a guarantee of tomorrow. we act like we’ve got unlimited chances to make things right. worse yet, we think that is true of others, also.
• “i’ve got to get my spiritual life together” – again, this is another deception. this one sounds really good, though. it sounds spiritual and purposeful and mature. too bad. it’s not.
• “i can do it alone” – not only is this a deception, it is openly promoted and praised as a virtue.

man, am i duped. so i’m going to stand up and fight this year. i am not going to live deceived any longer. here are my goals:

• keep the end in mind. i want to live with a deep reverence for life and a realistic awareness that the end of my life (as well as the lives of other) can and probably will come like a thief in the night. i know that’s the picturesque language the bible uses to talk about the cataclysmic end of time…but honestly, that’s what death is. i want every relationship i have to be seasoned with the reality that it could be over at any time, and i need to make the most of the time i have.
• live with integrity. this is not simply about honesty. it’s about living a life that is fully integrated. a life where all the parts are connected and moving to a consistent end. no more “sacred and secular”. no more “church life”. no more “public and private”. just a life that is lived fully devoted to christ. everywhere. all the time. with everyone.
• build deeper friendships. i want to completely smack the pride of the independent spirit right in the mouth. i want to live in praise of interdependence. i want to embody “we” and “us” and kick “i” and “me” and “mine” right in the crot…behind. i want to elevate the concept of asking for help to it’s rightful lofty status. i want to live the lifestyle of doing it together…all the time.

i think god will be honored with this kind of effort. do you want to join me?

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