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?