Last month I talked about leaving a legacy and I asked, "What are you doing to prepare for leaving a legacy?" and "Who are you mentoring as a successor?"
As leaders with the responsibility for steering our organization, we own the responsibility to plan for the future. Now, it is easier to just let each day come and go as they may and just get by. Some leaders say, " We're just walking by faith and letting God lead us." Now don't get me wrong, I believe in trusting God and walking by faith, but I sure like to know that I am walking in the right direction with some purpose.
We are living in days when overnight it seems that everything changes. Our computer gets outdated, the phone we bought yesterday was replaced with a better version today, technology supersedes your ability to fund the change, personnel challenges and governmental regulations continue to cause change.
As we enter 2010 let me recommend that you forget what is in the past and challenge you to press onward with your goals. Paul had a good perspective
Philippians 3:13-14, " Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are ahead. 14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
Paul was looking forward toward the end goal. What is your end goal? Let me ask another question. What are you doing to prepare for this year? What would you like to accomplish this year? How far down the road would you like to be on completing your goals?
Let me share with you a Moose Hunting Story:
A friend was telling me the other day a story about a couple of his friends who had gone moose hunting in Northern Canada. They had to be flown in by a pontoon plane. The pilot landed on a lake in this remote area. He told the hunters as he was about to leave, "Remember you can only get one moose, because that's all the plane will hold. I'll be back Friday afternoon to get you."
When the pilot arrived back on Friday and taxied the plane over to the shore, he saw that the two hunters had two moose. He said, "I told you guys one moose!"
The hunters responded, "The pilot last year flew out with two moose."
The pilot asked, "Was it the same kind of plane and same size lake we landed on?"
"Yes, same size plane and the same lake, but the pilot last year, he was a younger man and we guess he had a little more nerve and courage than you."
The older pilot's pride was challenged and he said, "Well, if he did it, I can do it, too." So they strapped one moose on each of the pontoons and went to the end of the lake. The pilot revved the engine and they took off. Just as they were about to get beyond the trees, a pontoon struck a tree and sent them crashing to the ground. Both wings were torn off, the two hunters were thrown out of the plane and the pilot, being strapped in, went to the ground with an awful crash. The pilot was fine, and the two men luckily were OK. One hunter woke up and asked the other hunter, "What happened?" The other answered, "We crashed." "Well, where are we?"
"We're about 100 feet further than we were last year."
Question, How far would you like to go in 2010, a hundred meters or so further than last year? Or, would you like to make some real progress? It's up to you.
Pray and ask God what He wants you to do this year.
Jerry Nance PhD
President
Global Teen Challenge
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