Planning for Angst

It’s the time of year when the CLI team starts planning for the next fiscal year by setting priorities and goals. This year, creating the list came easily to me. “It must be the Holy Spirit!” I thought. I shared my elation and the draft of my list with a mentor of mine. My wise friend’s response startled me, “Does this list make your heart race? Is this the right list or simply the list you know?” I had fallen into the trap that I counsel dioceses and parishes about constantly. Don’t set the goals you can accomplish; set the goals you need to accomplish; set the goals God’s calling you to accomplish. Great goals should be within our sight. However, to reach them should require a stretch or maybe even jump. So, too, it is with our discipleship. It is a journey that doesn’t exist without God’s will and yet, how often do I find myself negotiating for the path I think is better, for the path I know, and for the path that keeps my heartrate at a steady, comfortable pace? If we choose His path, we choose a path that we can’t walk without Him. I’m still working through my goals, Godspeed (and heartrate) as you discern yours!