“There is an appointed time for everything.  And there is a time for every event under heaven”

– Ecclesiastes 3:1

He was going to be all that mortal could be…tomorrow!  No one should be kinder or braver than he…tomorrow!  A friend who was troubled and weary he knew, on him he would call and see what he could do…tomorrow!  Each morning he stacked up the letters he would write…tomorrow!  And the thought of the folks he would fill with delight…tomorrow!  It’s too bad indeed he was busy today and hadn’t a minute to stop on the way.  

The more time he had to give to others he’d say…tomorrow!  The greatest of workers this man would have been…tomorrow!  The world would have known him, had he ever seen… tomorrow!  But the fact is, he died today…and he faded from view, and all that was left when living was through, was a mountain of things he intended to do…tomorrow!

Spring time is about renewal and it always gets my mind thinking about time itself.  In contemplating the passing of time, I am reminded that most of the birthdays in my family occur during the spring, which always brings my mind back to Psalm 90:12.  It is customary to count our years, but scripture tells us to number our days so that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.  Being a self-aware man, I tend to look at the world from the inside out and often bond with those who do the same. Recently, I have been reflecting on where I am in life and being quite aware of how quickly life can change.  I have seen rapid changes in the circumstances of my own life that are affecting my career, my home life, my relationships, my ministry and my future.  I have also seen more drastic changes as death has suddenly come upon some in my extended circle of influence.  Ecclesiastes 9:12 says that no one knows their time of death and evil times will fall on us suddenly.

When I came across the poem above, it was actually perfect timing in putting in perspective things that I have been burdened by this year.  Lately, I have had three recurring thoughts: 1) be intentional in my actions, 2) finish what I start and 3) commit to becoming.

In being intentional, I have felt the need to be more direct in defining goals for my actions. That doesn’t sound like an earth shaking revelation, but if you have known my journey that last five years, then you would know why that is significant.  Scripture says that man makes his plans, but it is God who directs his steps (Proverbs 16:9).  As I am preparing to move to the other side of the country, I know the things that I hope come from this move, however I am not sure if this move is an answered prayer that is part of a string of answered prayers, or if God has a different plan. Either way, I am embracing the change. What I do know is that it is quite evident that a season of my life has past and something new is beginning. I can see patterns in my life where God was refining me for periods of time.  The Winter of discontent is how I will always think of the recent years behind me.  As Spring follow winter, my hope is that this move is more than symbolic and the beginning of a new life God has planned!

Second, I have made a commitment to be discipline to finish what I start.  I have become discontent with unfinished business in my life, and these things range from big to small.  This started with my ongoing need to declutter my life and simplify.  From that has grown the need to finish what I start.  For example, I have too many half read books;  I have several DVD movies I have started and never finished;  I love to write and have started writing three books and am excited about each one, but have not committed the time to finish one of them;  Do you remember when you first learned to ride a bike, that rush of realizing you are half way down the block without training wheels and have not fallen.  That was the feeling I got when I started learning to play piano, as I realized what I was hearing was coming from what I was doing.  It was so addicting, but the busyness of life has stalled that joy.  I need to finish my lessons to become a real player; I am a Krav Maga blue belt candidate, but stopped training because of time constraints.  These time constraints also had an impact on my health and fitness goals, so that is also an area that I have recommitted to achieving.  There are other things, but I feel compelled to finish these items as a matter of personal integrity and reaffirm in my heart the resolve to finish what I start.

This third item of becoming who God has called me to be is tied to first two items above.  Have you ever had friends or family tell you about your potential?  It has happened to me for years and is still happening.  It is supposed to be a compliment, but what I hear is my failure to achieve.  The two most common directed at me are “you should write a book” and “you would be a great dad.”  These are both dreams of mine, so I am making a focused effort to finish one of my books.  I hope to be a dad and would love to have daughters, but first I need a wife.  I am not sure if I will ever get published or get married, but I do know that as you walk with God daily, He not only gives you the desires of your heart, but He also molds them, so I have to believe there is a plan that goes with my desires.  In the process of becoming who God is calling me to be, I know that I need to be intentional and I need to be discipline so that my steps are guided and that I am prepared for His blessings at the appointed time!

“For the vision is yet for the appointed time;
It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
For it will certainly come, it will not delay.

Habakkuk 2:3