Wanna Join Me?

In my previous post I promised that I would share with you one of my goals for the upcoming year. So here it is…. I am going to read through the Bible in 2009. To some of you I am sure that sounds cheesy and “religious,” but hear me out. I have read through the Bible in a year once before, and it was one of the best things I have ever done for a couple of reasons. First, the “structure” of it helped me to spend more time focusing on the spiritual elements of my life and God than I ever would have otherwise. Like most Americans, the spiritual part of my life is one that often gets pushed aside by the demands of daily life; family, friends, social activities, even church itself. The problem is, this eventually catches up with me as eventually I run into questions and issues that only spirituality can address. 

Second, and more importantly, during that year I felt God speaking to my heart more than at any other time in my life. It sounds hokey and I can’t even begin to put it into words, but I cannot count the times when I was reading the Bible that something in the passage (or sometimes a seemingly disconnected thought) would flash through my mind and resonate so strongly in my heart that I knew God was speaking to me. Now if you know me well, you know that I do not use that kind of language very often. I am a very logical person and do not over-spiritualize every little event or decision. In fact, I am always skeptical when other people say things like that. But I cannot describe it in any other way.

So all that to say.. I am going to do it again in 2009. And I would like to invite you to join me. Seriously – think about it. Whether you have done it before or not.

Here’s the cool part if you decide to give it a shot: I have created a Facebook group with a message board to discuss the passages read each week. Instead of trying to do it by ourselves, we can read though it together at the same pace and discuss what we are reading as we go. Please check out the group here, and send me a message if you want to join. I sincerely hope that you will consider it – I am sure that your 2009 will be better if you do.

Resolutions

Here in the middle of the Christmas season, the realization hit me the other day that the new year is almost here. And with it comes the yearly ritual making of new year’s resolutions. Now I know that some people out there really use new year’s resolutions to make some changes in their lives, but I think that most people are either jaded, cynical, or just apathetic about them.

The thing about resolutions though, whether we verbalize them at the new year or ever, is that we all have them. We all know what things we would like to change in our lives. We want to get in shape, find a better job, be a better husband/wife/parent, learn a new skill, quit a habit, or grow closer to God. But more often than not, we just don’t follow through. The goal may be a difficult one or we may just get distracted by the daily routine of our lives. So another day, month, or year goes by and we end up no closer to becoming the person we really want to be. Another problem is, we almost always tackle these things on our own. We don’t share our desires or resolutions with anyone. So when the going gets tough, no one knows but us. And when we slip a little, no one is looking or is there to help us up.

For me, the secret to making changes and accomplishing things has been twofold. First, I have to put in place some structure or system to help me take small tangible steps towards the goal. For example, if I want to “get in shape,” I can’t rely on my willpower to exercise regularly. I have to actually schedule time each week to do it. Second, I have to let other people in the loop. I have to share my desires and goals with them and actually ask them to check up on me every once in a while.

Right now I am still thinking through some things that I might want to accomplish next year. One of them in particular I will share with you in a couple of days. Maybe you will want to think through yours and we can help each other out on them.

Prayer

Heal my heart and make it clean.
Open up my eyes to things unseen.
Show me how to love like you have loved me.

Break my heart for what breaks yours.
Everything I am for your kingdom’s cause.
As I walk from earth to eternity.

- Hosanna, Hillsong

What Should I Do With My Life?

I just finished reading a very cool book this week. I randomly picked it up off the sale rack in a bookstore in Victoria a few weeks ago for the 2 1/2 hour ferry ride back to Seattle, and loved it. The title makes it sound like a cheesy self-help book, but its not. The author was intrigued by the question of how people find and settle into their “callings” and began asking people about just that. After interviewing over 900 people, (crazy, huh?) he of course was able to notice some trends. This book is a collection of over 50 people’s stories, grouped into several categories. 

As a person who has struggled with this question seemingly more than most people do, the book really resonated with me. Not that it provided any earth-shattering insight or answers, but just seeing the wide variety of paths that people’s lives take and how long some of them take to develop was encouraging to me. There were people who fell into their callings almost accidentally, some who took huge leaps of faith (or risks) to get there, and others who bounced around for long periods of time before settling into a groove. 

Through it all, one thing is clear to me. Our career paths are as unique as we are. As much as we think we would like for them to fit into neat little checkboxes, categories, and timelines, they don’t. As cliche as it sounds, it really is much more about the journey than the destination. And for me, I think I would be much happier if I could learn to enjoy the scenery along the way instead of always being preoccupied by where the path is headed.

Back To School?

For those of you who know me well, you know that I am allergic to school. Don’t get me wrong… I love learning and I loved college. Just not “school” in the traditional sense of the word. Not enough practical knowledge or flexibility for me. Which is why this is right up my alley. 

Seth Godin, innovative thinker and author of several books, is opening his office up to a handful of people for a 6-month “real world” business education. Sort of an school-internship-mentoring-hybrid-sorta-thing. So I am applying. Anybody want to join me?