Well Intentioned Goals

Feb 8

Written by Nicky King

Do you ever vow to make changes in life? Good changes. The ones that will allow you to resemble the person you want to become. If you are like me, you are constantly striving to be better, do better, work harder, faster, and more efficiently. Unfortunately, too often well thought out plans will crumple to the ground! How? We have already planned, prepared, and rehearsed a different outcome. Regrettably, these results often fall short because we are human. That is not an excuse as much as it is a realization. Success can be realized by knowing the kind of person we are and the one we want to become. Watching and learning from others can provide clues to unlock lasting change.

I enjoy planned and predictable outcomes with no elements of surprise. Preparation is key. Outcomes are rehearsed from every angle to ensure success. Quick responses are a requirement and minor details are never warranted because it would require WAITING, which is more than I am willing to endure. I use my word choice deliberately. If you talked to those closest to me, they would say that I am simply NOT KNOWN for my patience. I hate to wait! While this is true about my character now, it is something that I endeavor to change.

Some benefits from patience are starting to develop as I daily walk this path:

1. Becoming a better listener. A selfish focus is changed to being others focused.

2. Building strong relationships as trust is developed.

3. Developing persistence, resilience, and lasting change.

As so brilliantly worded in the poem below, I want to continue to persevere in my actions from the person I am, to the one I want to become.

I Hate to Wait, written by Paul David Tripp in his book titled, a SHELTER in the time of STORM.

I hate to wait;
I have places to go
I have people to see
I have things to do.
I love me
and I have a wonderful plan
for my life.

I hate to wait.
I don't like obstacles
in my way
or people that disagree
or processes that take too long.

I hate to wait.
I don't like lines
or traffic
or delayed appointments
or tardy people.

I hate to wait.

I wake up every day
with an agenda.
I know
what I want to accomplish.
I know
how I want it done.
I know
where I want it done.
I know
when I want it done.
I know
who I want to do it.
I know
why it has to be done this way.

I hate to wait
because
I’m the one having to wait.
I don't mind
that you have to wait
but I don't want to have to
wait with you.

I hate to wait
because
I tend to put myself
in the one place
I am never supposed to be
and
I tend to want to be
the one thing
I should never crave to be.

I hate to wait because
I want to be
in the center of my universe
and I want to be
my own sovereign.

When I forget your plan
When I lose sight of your will
When I begin to think
that my life belongs to me
When I fall prey to
the delusion
that I’m wiser than you
and
my way is better than yours
Then I hate to wait
and
I curse the obstacles in my way.

But you are sovereign
and you are
Good
and loving
and gracious
and kind
and mighty,
filled with compassion
overflowing with mercy.
You bought me
with the price of your Son.
You forgave me
and the cost was his death.

For all my attempts
at independent wisdom
and self-sovereignty
the truth is
that my life doesn’t belong to me.

So
once more I fall to my knees.
Once more I open my hands
and
give my life back to you
and say
"You do in, with, and through me
what you think is best
and
I will follow
and when
your wisdom and grace
require it
I will be willing
to wait.