Brace yourself…I’m about to commit heresy. (Like that would surprise those of you who know us.)
Jay and I have been busy pouring over our goals for 2009. It’s something we’ve done all our married lives and we take it seriously. We also review our written goals for the prior year.
Reviewing can be a painful process. If we accomplish 50% of our goals, we figure we’ve had a banner year. And sometimes, we accomplish the goals with not-so-good results. (IE….Our year to explore the country in an RV that ended in disappointment.)
Well, I was in the middle of writing out the 5 year financial plan when a radical thought seized my mind: Ditch the goals. I told Jay. You woulda thought I had just suggested an open marriage.
But we began talking about it. How performance driven Christianity has become. How performance driven our society is. If you accomplish your goals- you’re a good person. If you didn’t—you aren’t. We validate ourselves and others through our accomplishments.
What about a year of asking God to help us discover more deeply who he is? What about a year of asking God to show us who he’s called us to BE. And from THAT….let life’s activities unfurl.
I’m always talking about how the DOING’s got to come from the BEING. What about a year where we get the focus off of what we’re going to do and just live day by day?
I discussed this with a precious woman who is facing her second battle with cancer. Cancer certainly wasn’t on her goal list this past year. Most certainly not a second time. She smiled when I told her our UNplan. (Here’s a shout out to you, Dianna—-You’re an amazing woman and your courage inspires me. And ditto to my friend Pat who has also been fighting a great battle.)
Yes, having written goals are a proven means to success. But what about those interupptions that life has a way of throwing at us? The engine trouble that messes with the travel goals. Or God forbid, the doctor visit that turns your life inside out?
THOSE are the times when I realize I don’t know or understand God’s compassion and love deeply enough. Can I trust who he IS instead of what he can DO (or NOT DO) for me in my time of trial?
I know there’s a lot of thoughts I’m throwing out here. It’s a lot to sort through. What does a year without goals look like? Do we just wander aimlessly about like the snowflakes wafting outside my window? Or will it look more carefree like Caleb who was just running amid the flakes, chasing the dog, full of the joy of the moment?
It should be an interesting year. The Year of the Unplan.
Filed under: Goal Setting, Personal development Tagged: | goals, life planning, plans, The UNPlan, trusting God
