intentionally so...

About five years ago I turned fifty. A new friend recommended a book to me called Pursue the Intentional Life. I joked with her at the time that if I got any more intentional in my life I might fall over, hence I did not need to read that book. Working in full time ministry, with a strong shepherding gift, and a sense of responsibility and accountability for my time, I was often evaluating the most fruitful use of my time and resources in a Kingdom sense.

I was often asking myself questions like, “who are the people I’m going to invest the most time in?” (as we have a limited number of hours to give) and  “what are my goals in the areas of ministry I’m serving in for the next year?” (if you shoot for nothing that’s what you will get). 

You get the idea.

Years ago a friend I served alongside confronted me saying that I was too intentional and should just wake up and see where the day took me. 

No way.

That was not the way that I rolled..

My interest was piqued though, and I picked up the intentional life book and started reading.

The author,  Jean Flemming, had my complete attention with her opening sentence, “It all started when I turned fifty.” I had just turned fifty.

Now, nearly five years into my fifty’s (I’ll turn fifty five in July), I can definitely see a mindset shift that has occurred over the past four years. It helps that everyone around me is also concerned with my life being lived intentionally.

 My boss at camp reminds me that I’m in the 3rd quarter of life and to not waste time. He also says I need to “coach” more than “do”- because I have a lot to teach people. Another friend, when we met for coffee, said plainly, “you know that as our children get older, we enter the most productive years for the Kingdom- are you keeping that in focus?” And another close friend prays and plans all summer long for how her time will be spent in the coming year, who she will invest in, and where she wants to grow.

What incredible friends I have :)

I came to realize while reading that I was indeed living an intentional life. My actions were driven by intentions.

But I also came to see the purpose in writing out the short ‘value statements’ that guided my intentions. The ideas in the book brought into sharp focus for me the truth that my actions stemmed from values I held deeply and that governed what I  intended to do.

So I started writing down values that came immediately to mind. Sentences like:

The best that I have to offer someone else is myself loving Jesus and being emotionally healthy.

It’s the people that matter, not the stuff or the tasks.

My security is a gift from my Father and cannot be taken from me.

Without margin, I don’t have time for people that pop in.

Ask yourself, “how would a mature, secure, healthy woman of God respond in this situation?”

I want to live WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) or sincerely.

You get the idea?

So periodically, I’m going to take one of my “Rules and Intentions for Susan’s life” and unpack it in a short post. If it resonates with you, I’d love to hear from you. I’d also love to hear some of your life intentions.

Stay tuned.