For the Year Ahead …
Six months ago I wrote a post entitled “#GoalsForGod”. In that post I shared how I have had a relentless pursuit in achieving my career goals. I then went on to ask what would my life be like if I activated this same pursuit in my relationship with Christ?
I have shared nuggets of my return to school in 2012 – also when I started this blog – and my experiences as a nontraditional, graduate student making sacrifices along the way in hopes of obtaining my dream job. In no particular order, many of my posts from that season referenced my dire belief that my return to school was laid on my heart by God during one of the lowest points of my life. I shared that I didn’t know how things would turn out or if I would ultimately obtain a job in the academy, but that I was willing to make the sacrifices needed to find out. I wrote about resigning from my job, taking an hourly position, and relocating to a cubicle. I discussed risking financial security and job stability in pursuit of more time dedicated to school. I wrote about the hardship of saying no to social and sometimes family, as well as weekend, invitations because of mounting homework. I also mentioned my exhaustion from a 3-hour commute (one to an hour and a half each way) a few days a week during the last three years of my graduate school journey to attend class and eventually, teach class as an adjunct faculty member. I gave the journey all I had. For five years, I sacrificed the “now” for the “what may be”. While I acknowledge that my ability to return to school and mention of anything related to pay grades, pay schedules, and office location are all privileges, I also assert that these choices were not ones I was always afforded. And I humbly thank God for the option to even consider these decisions.
My sacrifices and pursuit did not stop at attending school. Once I began working in the academy, I did everything I could to excel. I attended every relevant workshop. I invited colleagues out for lunch and afternoon coffee in an effort to build relationships. I participated in a 12-week faculty development program that included weekly webinars, conference calls, and homework. I met regularly with my faculty mentor. I traveled across the U.S. to attend a week-long research institute. Unfortunately, I worked evenings, weekends and even on vacation all in hopes of creating a strong foundation for my years ahead in the academia. To the best of my ability, I continued to put in hard work believing God would and will do the rest by honoring my faith paired with action.
When I look back on my pursuit of career goals, often at the expense of my relationship with Christ, I once again ask what if I did the same for God? While my relationship with Christ is a life-long commitment, I am curious as to what will happen if for one year my pursuit of growing closer to God mirrored – or even exceeded – the pursuit I directed toward my career.
I have made the commitment! For the next year, I am in #Relentless pursuit of growing closer to God. I am eternally grateful for my time in the U.K. as a prelude to this season. It was during that time that I experienced an unexpected spiritual rebirth – a personal revival of sorts. During that time, God worked on me and in me to help me see: the value of commitment and consistency (more on this later); the need for a daily, devotional routine; the value of self-care in every way; the necessity of boundaries in my personal and professional life; the requirement to be in Christian community and fellowship; the vital importance of discernment; the beauty and comfort of grace and mercy; the call to forgive and make amends; and the art of letting go.
Several intentional commitments are now in motion related to my #RelentlessYear :-), some short-term, with a few continuing indefinitely. I am participating in the year-long IF: Discipleship Collective as a mentor to two amazing women. On tomorrow (Tuesday, Sept 24th), two friends and I will conclude an 8-week (one day a week) corporate fast. I am participating in a 90-day devotional plan with a few other friends and associates, paired with a weekly prayer call led by my dear friend and prayer partner – we’ll call her Abigail. Abigail and I are also doing a 10-week series alongside her church called Rooted (an international Christian curriculum-based study that started in Kenya). Other opportunities that extend beyond this next year include me joining a local church and becoming active in ministry via service. Abigail and I also started “First Fridays”, a monthly fellowship activity that includes a community event, Christian-based conference, and/or social activity, as a time for Christian women to travel, fellowship, and be renewed. And I am actively working to be a better steward of my time and financial resources.
I am excited to see what will happen over this next year and beyond. I am committed to refocusing each day, even as curve balls come my way. Most importantly, I look forward to strengthening my relationship with Christ as I know there is no level of activity or involvement that supplements this union. I understand wholeheartedly that this journey is not about “works” or accolades or any sort of busyness for Christ. For the next year my focus is about relationship – KNOWING God – and SERVING others. I look forward to sharing more about my journey.