Thinky Thursday: Many Are the Plans…

I have a tendency to view the passage of time in terms of events. For example: this year, my life has been dominated by the long shadow of two events–I got married in June, and we moved into a new apartment in August.  Big moments, requiring lots of planning, effort, and time.  

This is pretty common, I think. When we’re in school, we’re conditioned to see life in terms of semesters, and the semesters in terms of quarters and tests and projects.  When we are done with school (at whatever level we finish), we look forward to the big milestones of adulthood: marriage, job, house, kids, retirement.

As soon as my wife and I finished moving in, about a week ago (praise Jesus), I immediately started getting nervous. I find there’s always this lull, this doldrum period that follows a big event. I get lazy and shift into neutral and, before i know it, weeks or months pass.  I didn’t want that to happen this time. I’m appreciating now (as I creep up on the middle part of my 30’s) how precious time is.

So yesterday, I started making a list.

I thought about all the things I want to get done in the next three months, between now and December 1. Not just the big projects, but the important-yet-mundane daily check-boxes that need to be marked off.  Three months. 90(ish) days.

The list grew and grew. While it seemed a bit intimidating, I slowly realized that I have the time to do it all, or very nearly. I get the same 168 hours every week; it’s up to me to use them wisely. In order to knock out the list, what I need to develop is the discipline to choose the better over the good, the best over the better.  

But there’s a big HOWEVER to insert here: no matter how many plans I have, I must always remember what James says: 

“Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that’.” (James 4:14-15)

So, as I plan, I must always put in big, bold letters at the top of the list “IF THE LORD WILLS.”  But I’ll still plan. And as He gives me strength, I’ll get to December 1 and be satisfied with what has been accomplished.

2014 is tick-tick-ticking away. I want to have a plan to finish the year well.

What about you?

Do you have any plans for the next 3 months? Projects you want to start or finish? Personal challenges to take on?  Talk about them below!