Frugal Time: Long Term Goals

As I mentioned before I have been thinking more and more about priorities. Very simple question here: what the heck are they? I mean, I know in theory they are things like "God," "Luke," "David."

But I feel like somewhere on my list of everyday stuff there has to be room for achieving goals, and not just David or Luke or God related goals (although I will say those do have goals within them, too). I think there has to be room in life for actual accomplishments.

The Bible (which, in case you didn't know and are new here, is my guide book for how to do things) is full of examples of people who have and achieve goals or participate in pursuits both "holy" (example: Solomon building the temple) and pretty average (example: David as a master harpist). I figure if they can do it, so can I.

I also believe that goals can test your faith. As long as what you are doing is not against God in that it is evil or something like that, attempting something that stretches you as a person and as a Christian isn't a good stretch of your faith. God can pull you through all sorts of crazy adventures, from missions work to actual employment.

Back, oh, four years ago an example was given in a sermon of some guy who had some crazy list of goals, all of which he managed to accomplish in his life. I'm not entirely sure anymore what this sermon was about, by the way. Probably something to do with faith.

What's important is that during said sermon I made a list of goals. I should've thought the list through more. If I had done that it would have actual goals on it and not things that are so cool that I would love to do someday but are pretty much never going to happen unless I take a drastic lifestyle change -- like landing in a fighter jet on a aircraft carrier (yes, that is on the list).

Other things on the list:

Learn Spanish

Sky dive

White water raft

Learn Sign Language

Build a Web site

Play a Mozart Sonata

Learn to tap dance

Knit a blanket

Make Thanksgiving dinner

Travel on every continent

Own a car

Embed

Swim competitively

And the list goes on. I wrote it July 3, 2005 and I've only really accomplished four or five or the things on the list.

Maybe I need to make a new list.

When I do that "Complete a Triathlon" will DEFINITELY be on the list. Along with a bunch of other things that have nothing to do with learning Chinese (on the first list and is Never Going to Happen because I suck big time at learning languages).

And this brings me to the real point of this post. (I know, it took me way too long to get here). I am doing a triathlon. Or rather, three triathlons. And I feel crazy. CRAZY. Today as I was swimming I thought "wow, Amy, you really are crazy." See? Like that. But the truth of the matter is that this has been a goal of mine for a long, long time. And I cannot quit now, even though it seems like a super good idea. I cannot quit because this is the whole reason of having goals -- that when it gets hard and not so much fun, you can say "OK, God, I had this goal and now that I have no more strength left, I need you.

Oh snap! That's an analogy to the Christian life. Didn't see that coming, did you?

I competed in and completely my first race Saturday. It was a 5k "down and dirty mud run." That is exactly what it sounds like. Running. And mud. Because you don't believe me, here are some pictures.