When I played baseball growing up, I was a catcher. I loved the game, I loved the position. The catcher is like a coach on the field; he has to know everyone’s responsibility on every play, know hitters' tendencies, position players properly in the field, and like a master psychologist keep the pitcher from totally losing his mind. Some pitchers (Fain) were more difficult than others.
And, of course, the catcher’s biggest enemy is the base-stealer. The better catchers have strong arms with quick releases that unleash pinpoint accurate throws to second base just in time for the shortstop to make the tag and retire the base-runner. Me? I led the league in throwing out runners stealing centerfield. I had a strong arm and quick release, but sometimes my aim left a lot to be desired.
How many of us live life that way? We have a lot of strengths, some great ideas, plenty of talent and opportunities, but never seem to go anywhere. Except maybe around in circles. I recently took part in a discussion about why some people never seem to reach their goals. Some suggested reasons included fear, lack of ambition, entitlement attitudes, and such. My contribution was that so many people fail to reach their goals because they fail to set any. Too many people wander aimlessly through the circumstances of life only reacting to what it happening around them, like a boat drifting with the tide, rather than charting a certain course and navigating toward it.
As a new year begins, let me challenge you to work on your aim. What are you trying to achieve or accomplish with your life this year? Aim answers the “what” question of life – what do I want my life to look like at the end of certain period of time. Spiritually speaking, what do you want your life to look like on December 31, 2008?
After establishing the “what,” we move on to the “how” question – how do I get there? Once we have an aim, we need action plans that move us toward that aim. If my aim is to be a better prayer warrior, then one of my action plans may be to wake every morning 30 minutes before everyone else in the house to spend some quiet time in prayer. If my aim is to be a better Bible student, then one of my action plans may be to read through my Bible in its entirety this year. Action plans are tangible, specific, accountable steps that move us toward our aim.
Take aim and take action in 2008. Stop drifting through life and proactively begin to actualize the person God created you to be. I pray for a blessed and focused year for you this year.
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 3:14
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