Make a plan, work the plan

By Ken Lynn (7/7/2018)

I tell my kids that they should “Make a plan, work the plan”. This epithet has been repeated so many times that I am not sure they remember the original lesson. We often find ourselves in dire situations and without a clear path to rescue. We need a salvation, so we look outwardly for spiritual intercession or internally as to whether we have need for repentance. This meditation process naturally leads us to hope, but that is only a partial victory. Don’t get me wrong; hope isn’t a bad thing; it is just the first step. It’s not a physical solution, action plan, and it’s definitely not a complete victory.

Hope is the groundwork we have as we “envision” and explore ideas that will eventually become a goal. A solution to any problem, or our victory, must include an understanding of what success will look like when we achieve it.

Acts 2:17 says: “…your young men will see visions; your old men will dream dreams”. As I grew, my past experiences have greater affected on my hopes and dreams. My dreams as an older man have become filled with myriads of detail. Every single one must be analyzed, incorporated, and often overcome. Then the difference between a vision and a dream, at least to me, is the amount of detail you can see. This leads me to believe that dreams and visions serve different purposes. Old men have experienced failures and successes that make them leaders because their fortitude compels them to lead everyone around, over, or through obstacles that thwarts our successes. Young men have visions, that are bright and shiny, and these leaders bolster excitement and enthusiasm. Unfortunately, or fortunately, young men’s visions don’t have the clarity that would prepare them for the obstacles they face.

How does that relate to “planning”? Let me continue by saying that when planning you must have at the heart a vision or dream that you desire to achieve. Planning then infers that you must investigate what it takes to achieve your goal. Planning is active; you must move from what “might be” towards what “will be”. This requires you to identify clear, discernible steps you will take that will lead you to success. 

 Something else lost by many people is that faith has another active role; it’s not expressed by how well you sit in a pew, but how principled you are exiting the parking lot. Can you imagine five hundred hungry people on a blissful Sunday afternoon heading out to lunch with only two good restaurants in town. Your faith might be measured best if your wait for a table is longer than your wait for the homily. 

Obedience within God’s will and by His principles will decide your ultimate success. I am reminded that we can have “fleshly” success while at the same time have “spiritual” failure. Did you pay your tithe this week? Did you tip your waitress this afternoon? One is an act of obedience; the other an act of kindness. Which one of these do you feel is righteous? We might not fully understand God’s principles: turn the other cheek, love they neighbor, honor your father; but they will foreshadow and guide you in how to overcome real obstacles in life and in righteous manner. When you plan, you will breakdown lofty, insurmountable goals into tasks that are “doable” and measurable.  I hope you can see how simple acts of obedience, faith, and kindness can then guide you towards your goals. If you can’t understand that yet, seek out “some old man” that can help you.