While I’m 31

I turned 31 just a couple of days ago.  And I know that in itself is nothing special, but I’ve been thinking about this for a couple of days- how will my 32nd year be any different than the ones before it?  The truth is none of my years have been bad, but while I’m still breathing I would just like to make a concerted effort to get better at some things.  So, I’m going to do something I’ve never done before:  make a list.

This list isn’t meant to be exhaustive.  I’m sure I’ll leave a few things out.  What it is meant to be is a place for me to be held accountable.  In all of these things listed below, I would like you, my friends (and I’m assuming we are friends since you are reading this), to point me back to this list when I’ve gone astray, or to call me once a week to see how I’m doing in an area.  Maybe even one of these will strike a chord with you and you’ll want to do the same thing with me.  That would be great.  Some of these things are minor, some are quite large.  But I’m counting on you, friends, to help me strive to make this year great.  Here are just a few things that I’d like to do while I’m 31,in no particular order, along with some reasons why:

*I want to be in the best physical shape of my life.  I’ve found that working out has a tremendous impact on the rest of my day.  When I’ve exercised, I find it more difficult to eat unhealthy foods (I don’t want to ruin the hard work I’ve just put in!). Eating well and working out help me to feel better mentally, too.  I know I’ve done good stuff to my body, and that just makes me feel good.

*I want to spend more nights at home.  Being a youth pastor and worship leader means that LOTS of evenings are spent with people who are not my family.  And while ultimately I LOVE my job and seriously enjoy that I get paid to do the very things I’d do for free anyway, I know my family misses me, and I miss them, when I have to spend extra, unplanned nights away.  I need to commit to no more than 3 nights out on any given week, and make sure my boys and girls get my attention, not just left-overs.

*I want to pray, every night, with my wife.  Sounds like an easy one, but with both of us running around, giving kids baths, and cleaning and getting prepared for the next day, we just haven’t made that a priority.  No, I haven’t made that a priority.  But praying with Maya not only gets us connected and focused on God, it’s a time only we can share together, and talk about the big and little things happening in our lives.

*I want to be more effective as a leader.  As a pastor, I have a pretty high degree of influence, especially on students.  I would like to say I always say the right thing or make the right decision regarding how I go about interacting with people, but I don’t.  Part of that is being human.  But part of that is having to serve people out of the margins of my day…which leads me to my next item:

*I want to be more efficient with my time.  Anyone have any ideas on how to do this?  I find little tiny ways to waste time during the day quite often.  And while sometimes playing games on my phone is just therapeutic, more often it is just a waste.

*I want to read the bible more frequently.  Many would say, “isn’t this exactly what pastors are supposed to do?”  Yes.  But that that’s not why I want to read the bible more frequently.  It’s because I honestly do love Jesus, and I love reading the words he told people, and the stories of faith that changed the world.  I want to be a part of that, and I want to be as connected as I know how to the God who loves and made me.

*I want to meet new friends, and develop deeper relationships with the ones I have.  The truth is I’m a pretty lucky guy.  I have amazing friends.  The best.  But I know that many times people get so familiar to the same people that they develop the same habits, the same mindset, and the same, well, everything…which means they aren’t challenged, and ultimately quit growing as a person.  I don’t want that.  I want to meet new people who don’t think like me.  I want my old friends to challenge me when I become stagnant or dogmatic.

*I want to write an album of 12 original songs.  I’ve been playing guitar and singing for some time now, and I’ve recorded a few things.  But I’ve never really taken any of it seriously.  I still don’t know if I want to take it seriously, but I enjoy the process of creating.  I’m certain I’ll never make any money from it…this one is mostly for my own enjoyment.

*I want to travel to a place I’ve never been.  Most of my life life has been spent right here in good ol’ Merced.  And I’m pretty sure the rest of it will be, too.  But I like seeing new places, creating new memories and stories with my family, and being able join in conversations by saying, “Oh, I’ve been there!”

As you can see, I’m gonna need some help sticking to these.  No doubt I’ll do well at some times in some areas, poorly in others.  I know that.  But I’m sharing this list of wants because, well, I truly want to do them.  And if I keep all of these thoughts only to myself, I know that I am less apt to actually make attempts to do them.  I’ll probably add a few more later, and I’ll probably find out that some of them are a lot more important than the others.  But, there it is friends.  I need help to make this year spectacular.  Who’s with me?

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