We’re three days into the new year. It’s time to declare my goals for the year. Only, this year is a bit different. I have goals, but the goals a bit different. They are more like themes that will guide me. Or maybe it’s the idea of setting up systems that will help me accomplish what I am setting out to accomplish. To keep it simple, I’ll keep calling them goals.
I actually took some time over Christmas break and mapped out these goals through 2022. Let’s get real for a moment. Do I expect everything to go according to plan? Of course not. In fact I expect that there will be changes along the way. Graduating in May and then being ordained, and starting ministry will definitely bring some changes – changes I can’t even foresee. But that doesn’t mean I just sit around and wait. Instead, I can try some things out, see how they work, and determine if they are something I will continue with.
So, here’s my goals, or themes, or systems, or whatever you want to call them for 2017:
Health – Run two half marathons in 2017. I feel as though all of my injuries from 2016 have finally healed up. I’ve been to the Y two days in a row, doing different workouts – running, cycling, lifting some weights. I’ll be getting back to outdoor running soon. The system here is that I created a schedule for myself, with what I’ll be doing each day. Part of this is also eating healthier as well. I want to weigh 165 lbs – which means as of yesterday, I will drop 14 pounds. I’d really like to drop a pound a week, which means I eat considerably less and healthier. I started this yesterday and already feel healthier. I’m glad the holidays are over for one simple fact – better eating is easier now.
Career/calling – graduate in May and be ordained. My last semester of seminary starts soon. I’ve heard from the registrar that as long as I pass the classes I have signed up for, I will graduate in May. After graduation – then it’s ordination. I’m looking forward to seeing where God will be putting me to work.
Family – several things here. Take a trip with the family for up to two weeks after graduation. We’re looking at a few options of where this might be and I’m really excited about the possibilities. I also want to play more games with them and spend open time with each one and as a group with nothing at all planned – just being present with them. Also, I’m committed to cooking a nice meal once a week – my hope is that I find enough recipes that are unique and that I learn some things from this.
Writing – yes, writing gets it’s own section. There’s a lot of things I want to write about. I’ve actually created a schedule for writing. This may be over the top, but I’ve got five different ideas that I want to write about. Here’s the thing – I don’t expect that I’ll be writing about all five by the end of the year. I do expect that I’ll be writing about three of them. I’m not sure what they will lead to, and frankly, I don’t care. I just want to write about these ideas. The topics include church, politics, and prayer. Also, I’ve been doing a bunch of social media stuff (twitter, blog, etc) that are all very focused. I want to determine what I’m keeping and what I’m shedding and then some direction of where it might be taking me. In other words, narrow in on a focus for this – probably in line with the topics I will be writing about.
That’s enough to focus on for the year. What are your goals for 2017?
Luther, these are great goals! When you say you want to write on 3-5 topics, I suspect you are not talking about blog posts. So are you thinking of papers? Or books?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not sure if there is enough there for books, but definitely more than just blog posts. As I write, I’ll have to see where they go. Often I write off line on topics too – just to develop the ideas. The topics that are taking my interest right now are Christianity and partisanship, how everything I needed to know about church I learned from politics, 100 day action plan for church, something I’m calling symptoms of trust in a church, and there’s a last one that really doesn’t have a name but it floats around the idea of what it citizenship of heaven means for Christians in a very real and lived manner. Have you ever written a book? I’d love to, but don’t have an idea of what the process is really like or have any contacts of who I could pitch any of these to or what a good pitch would be.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Luther, I think those are very interesting topics! I have never tried to publish a book though I do have a couple manuscripts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
what are your manuscripts about?
LikeLike