Living in the present, Shaping the future by Judy Abbott
As I get closer to the age of 60, I find myself saying, “I really should do this or that”, but not taking any real steps to make it happen! I do not have much time to spare, and I often find myself getting into bed and saying, “Okay, now, I have to go to sleep really fast so I can get up and do the following tasks before I go to my job and work until night!” Mostly, I feel tired! So, when I attended the New Year’s service at E3 and heard Dan Meyer give the challenge to examine different areas of your life and think about what you want your life to look like on January 1, 2013, I felt quite overwhelmed by the whole thing. During the time when we were to reflect and fill in the blanks, I was asking the Lord what to do.
As I prayed, I decided to write a list of all the things I regularly say to myself that need changing. I came up with a list of 7 things:
- Have devotions first thing in the morning (It is so easy to get caught up in the day’s activities and not make time for my most important relationship)
- NO texting while driving (Yes, I am old, but I do know how to text!)
- Read a book a month
- Exercise for 30 minutes 3-4 times a week
- Follow the rule of 1 when eating (Yes, I can have a cookie, but only one!)
- Be in bed by 11p.m. (instead of staying up until I can’t stay awake 1 more minute and then collapsing into bed)
- Clean and organize the house and garage (remove the avalanche danger in Florida!)
I wrote the list on a 3×5 card and keep it with my Bible, so that I read it every day! It keeps the goals in the front of my mind. I visualize what it will feel like on January 1, 2013 if I make these changes this year. Since I am naturally disorganized and easily distracted, it gives me hope for a more orderly, disciplined life if I work towards small positive changes.
I have done well so far on devotions, not texting while driving, and being in bed by 11p.m. At my age, I realize that 3 out of 7 is not too bad, and I will keep working on the entire list. It is still January, but keeping my goals before me, challenging myself to incorporate the whole list this year, and refusing to use my life circumstances as an excuse for sloppy living, has already been a real encouragement and blessing to me. I am excited about the hope God has given me for this year. As I read my list each day, and ask Him to help me in each area, I feel hope returning to my soul and even some excitement for life and what this year will hold!
