2010 Life Planning

I’ve been thinking lately about a quote I read last year from the late Dr. Randy Pausch’s book, The Last Lecture: “experience is what you get when you don’t get what you want.” Dr. Pausch, a popular young Carnegie Mellon University professor, died last year of pancreatic cancer. In his book, Pausch shares his childhood dreams and how he achieved most of them. His book inspires people to go after their dreams, in spite of life’s setbacks and heartbreaks. In his lecture, shared on Oprah and recorded on YouTube, Pausch also outlined some other secrets of his success:
o Brick walls are there for a reason: they let us prove how badly we want things
o Have a sense of fun and wonder
o We need to value people over things
o Decide early on if you’re a Tigger or an Eeyore
o Work and play well with others
o Show gratitude
o Don’t complain; just work harder
I encourage you to watch the video of his talk from The Last Lecture web site: http://www.thelastlecture.com/ Pausch shares some powerful reminders of several important things we should remember every day if we want to live well. And now, here are some more personal musings…

Recently, I found out that I would be retiring from the US Air Force instead of transferring to a new position. This is not what I wanted, but it is the experience I am getting. I had planned on transferring to the Air Force Reserves and continuing my military ministry. Well, that’s not going to happen! So, now what do I do? Well, I am seeking wisdom from God through prayer, Bible study and the astute counsel from friends I admire and respect, among them, my wife and best friend. Suddenly I have time and flexibility I’ve not known for over 25 years. Since 9-11-2001, I have averaged about 80 days a year serving God and country as an Air Force Chaplain. Now, how will I best serve God and others? I am not exactly sure. However, I must tell you that I am not busy making plans to fill the void in my life, mostly because I don’t feel a void. Also, I am well aware of the saying, often attributed to both Woody Allen and Van Zant: “If you want to hear God laugh, just tell him your plans.” So, I am waiting, and seeking…

Meanwhile, I am also reminded of some other great truths from Scripture. Psalm 2:1-4 reminds me not to leave God out of the planning:
1 Why do the nations conspire
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth take their stand
and the rulers gather together
against the LORD
and against his Anointed One.
3 "Let us break their chains," they say,
"and throw off their fetters."
4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.
James 4:13-15 also reminds me to keep seeking God:
13Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.

So, as 2010 unfolds, so will God’s plan for my life. I “think” Cindy and I will be leading a mission trip to Uganda in March. We “believe” we will also teach a class in Italy in May, and “most likely” we will lead a church probe for Aletheia in June. I am also “hoping” to attend the Oxford Round Table conference in July and make a presentation there on “The Psychology of Religion and the Religion of Psychology.” If we get to Oxford, we also “hope” to visit the home of C.S. Lewis, and my ancestral homelands, Wales and Scotland. Perhaps, finally, I “will complete” a book I started several years ago, Before I Sleep: Reflections on the Meaning of Life and Death. Who knows? In reality, only God does at this point. In 2010, I will seek to follow Him an all ways, big and small.

What about you? What are “your” plans for 2010?