Begin with the End in Mind
The Christmas tree in my bonus room is still up. And decorated. Since December 2018. Yes, you read that correctly.
This is the hodgepodge tree. It isn’t pretty. In fact, it’s a bit awkward for the space it’s in. A tall, skinny pencil tree in a large open room. The top is twisted to the side, some branches stick out at odd lengths beyond the others, and the lights have started shorting out. Its decoration includes ornaments my grandmother stitched many years ago, pottery painted by my son, ornaments students have given me over the years, some that I had as a child, and a random, rather large sign that reads, “Christmas Blessings.”
Honestly, at first, I simply forgot to put it away. Then every time I’d walk upstairs I’d see it and think, “I don’t have time or energy to deal with that right now.”
But one day, my quiet time and writing time found me in the bonus room instead of my usual spot on the couch. And I’m thankful the tree is up. In all its awkwardness, it is still a thing of beauty. A reminder of what matters most. A reminder of things to come as well as precious moments gone by.
I see a bit of myself in this tree. Ok, not the skinny part, but certainly shiny in parts and a bit dull in others. One who holds fast to sweet memories and sometimes can feel a bit awkward or out of place. One who is imperfect, but still seeks to be one who points to the heavens—to God—and to all He has done for us. This tree is a reminder to let the hope of Christ be ever with me and before me.
As I sat taking it in, I was reminded that even in the moment of Christ’s birth, God knew what the end of his life on earth would look like. He gave Jesus’ life purpose, and He knew that the “Christmas Blessing” of Christ’s birth would lead to the eternal gift of forgiveness and life everlasting. Knowing this, Jesus walked the earth and lived a life of purpose, each action and word taking on meaning. No matter the circumstance, He knew what the end goal would be, “For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)
Years ago, I went through the Stephen Covey training, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. From all I learned, the one thing that has stuck with me through the years has been, “Begin with the end in mind.” This one question has led me through many challenges, reminding me to have goals and a plan for reaching them.
I truly believe in the power of beginning with the end in mind and focusing on one step at a time. For Jesus, yes, He was and is God, so His journey looked a bit different from ours. However, He set an example in seeking time alone with the Father, praying, and asking God’s will be done. He made time for what mattered most.
So what does it look like in our own journeys to begin with the end in mind?
Prayer:
Take your hopes, dreams, fears, struggles, and triumphs to God. He holds the present and the future. He knows your heart, and He wants you to draw near.
Vision Board:
Create a vision board. For me, this is a poster with Bible verses, reminders, and even pictures of goals I have for myself on my journey to finding freedom from food issues. Yours may look a bit different, depending on the goal, but it can still be a powerful reminder of where you are headed and the vision and benchmarks you have for the journey to get there.
Journal:
Write down your dreams and steps to get there. I am a writer, and yet I struggle with this one. Stopping to write down your dreams and laying out practical milestones for yourself is a great way to keep the end in mind. Rather than focusing on all the things, choose one milestone to work on each day.
Time:
Make time for working toward your dreams. I once heard someone say, “You have the time, but you’re using it to do other things.” (Can we say binge watching?)
What will you say YES to today? What do you need to say NO to in order to protect your time, family, resources, and dream building? Need help in determining this? Take it to God in prayer. Then, read The Best Yes by Emily P. Freeman or tune into her podcast, The Next Right Thing, for a bit of encouragement and wisdom.
No matter your journey, know you are not alone. We are ALL a work in progress. And much like my Christmas tree, we are a hodgepodge of experiences past and present…we are all a bit shiny in places and dull in others. But all of that makes us beautiful in God’s sight. Remember—your identity in Christ is not dependent on what you do. It is all about who HE says you are—a son or daughter of the King. There will be bumps along the road to reaching your goals. You will mess up. But you will never let him down. As Pastor Steven Furtick says, “How can you let God down when you were never the one holding him up?”
And always remember to give yourself grace...
