Making Goals and Dreaming Dreams

This is quite a process for me! I didn't realize it but last year I didn't finalize this until the end of January. But a little incident this morning revealed to me how important it is to get things down on paper!

Ever since about September of 2006, we've hesitated to use our shower due to needing tile repair in the tub. Do you know how annoying it is to wash your hair hanging over the tub? And while I like an occasional bath, I miss my hot showers. This morning I was starting to list in my journal different areas for change and opportunity in the coming year and, on the home front, this of course made the list. And then I promptly said, "what the heck!" and jumped in and enjoyed a nice hot shower! And then got the local Pennysaver out and called a contractor for an estimate. I tell you, writing things down works wonders!

Another thing I'm planning to do differently this year is share some of these goals with different people.. For starters, I plan to share some with my husband. I figure he would like to know where the money's going this year! (No, I'm kidding. We always make those kind of decisions together.) But what I fail to do is share my personal goals with him. For instance, if I have a goal of writing 15 minutes a day (outside of blogging, email, journaling etc.) then it makes sense he know why I'm sequestering myself in the game room each morning. Even though we don't necessarily share all the same goals and dreams, it makes sense to know where the other person is headed. (Where his goals are concerned, it's pretty easy - he's still taking classes towards his Masters, and yet a little probing into some of his dreams is probably in order.)

So that's where I'm at in this process. If you've already shared along these lines, I'd love to hear about your goals or resolutions or whatever you call them.

Word of the Year: Life-giving

Someone I am blessed to call friend recently posted about this word, specifically about things that are life-giving to her. And then it appeared in my reading of Madeleine L'Engle Glimpses of Grace, again in Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamott as well as several other things I'm reading. I can't get this word out of my head. It's as if God is saying "are you paying attention yet?"

Isn't that really what it's all about? Life. Eternal life. Abundant life. Now. People. Relationships. God. For so long I think I fell under the misconception that eternal life begins when life on this earth ends. I am learning there's so much more to life in Christ.

Another sweet blogger, Becky, and I have dialogued over several "Word of the Week" posts I've done and she related how each year she prays about a word for the year, something God would have her consider and learn and live. I'm thinking this word "life-giving" might be that word for me. What if that were the filter through which I ran my thoughts and my words? The things I do and and the things I read? The way I spend my time and my resources? How I relate to others? In each situation, am I choosing life?

And just as both inhaling and exhaling are necessary for breathing, so I realize this life-giving thing goes both ways. It's not just about what gives life to me. It's about things I can do - choices I make everyday - that enable me to give life to others in return.

I'm still working my way through some goals and dreams for the coming year, but for now my prayer is for this word to infuse and transform the way I do and see things in 2008.

Goodbye 2007, Hello 2008

Hard to believe another year has rolled on by, and I find myself staring at a brand new year as I would a blank canvas. Wondering what the picture will look like. Amazed and awed at the awareness of God continuing to work in my life, to fashion me into the image of his Son. Knowing that I literally bring nothing to the work except my own availability.

Last year, in lieu of a pile of resolutions, I opted to make some commitments to growth in just four areas, adopted from Luke 2:52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. Before I move ahead with thoughts about the coming year, it's time to look back, as I've done often this past year, in review:

Wisdom (Mental) My goal last year was to figure out some direction with regards to my degree. While my Bachelor's degree is respectable enough, unfortunately it being from an unaccredited college, it's nothing I can really build upon towards a Master's degree or move towards certification of some kind in the educational field without starting from scratch. And at 43, do I really want to start from scratch? Nah, not really. Slowly but surely, I think I've come to a point of acceptance about this and it's helping me be open to direction in other areas of potential. A continual area of prayer and discernment!

Stature (Physical) Desiring to maintain an active lifestyle and realizing that I only get one body in this life (duh!), I think I made some strides last year in this area. I hooked up with a friend who is an avid bike rider (not to mention hiker, cross-country ski buff and all-around outdoors nut) and hope to continue enjoying this kind of activity in the coming year.

Favor with God (Spiritual) I think I really started to "get" some things about my relationship with God last year. This is one area where starting from scratch was not a bad thing. Among other things, the concept of grace became very real and exciting to me. I'm realizing that, while I need to continue growing and living into God's love, God's love for me is already complete and perfect. There's nothing I can do to warrant any more of his love. God's love has become an awesome wellspring of life in which I desire to more fully abide.

Favor with Man (Relational) At some point in 2006, God began showing me that he did not intend for me to walk this journey alone. Humanly speaking, that'd be my preference. Alone and private is so much more predictable and controllable - or so I thought. Last year he brought some wonderful friends into my life who've helped me to realize that indeed, two are better than one. I've seen the seeds of community and connection begin to take root in my heart. And for that, I am deeply grateful. And I'm abundantly thankful for this place in blogland where I'm able and learning to be increasingly open, for friends to share in the journey!

Tomorrow - New Year's Resolutions 2008 Word for the Year!