Looking at the future use to be very hard for me. For the last 10 years I have had no idea where I was going to be from one year to the next. All of the jobs I have held the past 10 years I knew was temporary and that has been hard. But now I am in a situation I hope to be for a long time. But I still look into the future. There are things that I want to accomplish personally and professionally.
So I begin to wonder how do I close the gap between the reality that I am living now and the life I want in the future? I do not think I am going to stay where I am forever, but the life I am living right now is good, it is right for myself and my family. Am I still going to be able to say that 10 years from now? 5 years from now?
My kids are getting older and there are some things in my life that are always changing, and some other things never seem to change much.
How about you? Are you in a place in your life that you want to be or are you trapped in a life you don’t want, feeling stuck and unable to move? How much do you think about the future?
Try imagining the future…….What do you see? Imagine it so vividly and specifically that you can actually see it. Then, take it even further. Hear it, taste it, feel it, walk around in it!
Where are you living? Who are you with? What are you doing? Is there a gap between where you are now and where you want to be? Don’t think of that as a bad thing! You see, it is this gap that releases your energy and creativity.
Once I took my first call as a pastor I thought that I needed to stop dreaming about the future, and start living in the present. That is true, but I also need to think about the future not only personally, but for the church as well. This future, this vision is what moves us. The gap, between the way things are and the way we want them to be, is that space where our drive, energy and creativity have room to ignite. This energy and creativity moves us towards the place where we ant to be. Without a vision, a vivid picture of the future in the mind, there is no gap, and we will never discover our power, our purpose, and our mission.
What does your future look like? Does it excite you? Does it scare you? Where are you headed?
You postis interesting, and I have had several of the same thoughts. But I am also reminded by the words of Jesus, “why worry about tomorrow?”
Certainly there is plenty to worry about today, and there is where I live out the struggle. Tomorrow has its share of problems and possibilities, but there is enough for today already.
Good post!