So I was going to tell you this story about how I am a planner extraordinaire and this is how you can be like me but that would have been a lie. Well maybe a half truth.
In actuality, I like tasks. I see something that needs to get done and I go and immediately do it. I sometimes sit down and plan my method of attack but definitely not long or often enough to be making those types of declarations. I understand the importance of stopping and planning but sometimes we (well I) just like getting in there and getting it done. Then I read a few things that made me rethink this whole “not sitting down and planning thing.”
Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure.
Proverbs 4:26 ESV
For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him…”
Luke 14:28-32
Isn’t that crazy! Instead of running full steam ahead into a new venture try pondering for a little bit. Try thinking about the next step and the step after that. Make your way sure and your project complete by pondering! I’ve learned that with a good plan (pondering your path) success comes. And I don’t do it nearly enough. I’m sure I’m not alone! So if we were to ponder our path what are 3 things we really need to think about?
3 Things to ponder:
1. Vision
When you sit and ponder your path you begin to see where your ideas and dreams can go! Maybe you have an idea for a business venture, or a non-profit. What would happen if you took the time to sit and dream about what could happen with that idea? Ecclesiastes 3:11 says “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, He has put eternity into man’s heart…” and then Proverbs 25: 2 says “it is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings (we’re the kings btw) is to search things out.” What if we took the time to search out an idea for all its worth? Maybe that idea is bigger than you think.
Also sitting down and thinking through your idea can give you the clarity you’re looking for. Pondering the path can take you right towards the target and right to the next step! I had an idea for helping people with their dreams for years but never really sat down to think about it. But when I did take the time to ponder, this blog came to mind clear as day! It’s so important to sit, think, and dream! We miss out on so much when we run from one thing to the next all the time. We must ponder the “what if” and allow ourselves to dream.
2. Detail
Ok you now have a vision. You now know what you want to do or see happen. How are you going to make it happen? Well that’s where more pondering comes in.
For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him…”
Luke 14:28-32
Yup and you know you would be right with those folks making fun of that guy who half started a tower! Well, let’s not be him. How do we do that? You get the details! You do a little bit more pondering and maybe some research to put together a plan that will make that vision become reality! You know an architect isn’t going to take his 3-year old’s drawing of a house to make a real building no matter how amazing an artist he things he is! An architect starts to draw the building of his vision with precision. He goes and does research on the types of materials he would need. He would make sure the drawing is to scale and to code for the location he wants to build. He would leave no rock unturned when it comes to creating a building. We must do the same. Some questions to ask yourself:
- What do I need to get this idea going?
- Has this been done before? How did they do it?
- Do I have the resources (that includes people) I need?
- Where can I get the resources I need?
- When do I want to complete this task? Is the timeline realistic?
There are many more to ask but I think these questions will get us going in the right direction!
3. Failure
What??? Yup! Ponder failure. Don’t just think about how your idea will play out in the best conditions. Plan for the worst conditions. In the project management world it’s called Risk Management and people have whole careers surrounding that topic because it is that important! We all know something could go wrong or really right but we must plan for it all. What happens if you don’t have all the resources you think you need? Can you still make your idea happen? What would need to change?
Just recently I suffered from not pondering failure and I’m actually still working through it! I’ve been working my plan to exercise more and eat healthier and then it happened. I got injured! And of course I didn’t plan for that. So after a few days of sulking I realized I don’t have to stop my plan! I just have to modify it a bit but I wasted time being sad about the situation. When you properly plan for failure issues like an injury, or funding not coming through in time, are only a minor hiccup instead of a catastrophic calamity. Ponder failure. It’s going to happen. It just is.
Let’s ponder the path together! Is there a project or idea that you want to see come to life? Take at least an hour this week and ponder vision, detail and failure.
Let’s see what happens!
Make it Reality: What’s the idea you’re going to ponder this month?
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