All In The Planning

There are some things we do in life that don’t need a lot of planning.  Choosing a movie.  Where to go out to eat, unless it’s a fancy restaurant that needs reservations. 

Sometimes where you go on vacation.  I have a family member that just packs up the car and takes off with only a vague idea of direction or destination.  I find that a bit adventurous for my taste, maybe a bit scary, but if it works for them- and so far it has- great!

There are some things that need planning and practice. 

Jumping out of an airplane is one that comes to mind. 

First of all, I’ve never done that and I can’t picture myself ever doing that unless the plane is taking an unfortunate nosedive and is out of control.  But for the jumper, the chute has to be packed just right and I would suspect the back-up as well.  I would think the jumper would have some instruction and perhaps some practice.  The jump-site would need to be scoped out and someone would have to tell the jumper when to jump. 

All of that takes a fair amount of planning.

I would think a rock climber needs to plan and practice.  First of all, one needs to be in shape. For some of us, that can take some time.  Perhaps practicing on small hills and bluffs with a slight incline might be in order.  The climber has to plan each hand-hold, each foot-hold.  Unless the climber is free-climbing, a safety harness and the special hooks and clamps and guide rope have to be chosen for the best possible location. 

For the climber, the results of not planning, not practicing could be tragic.

There is a multimillionaire who, a long time ago before he was ever considered rich, wrote two goals on a piece of paper.  What he wanted to achieve in life.  He folded it in a nice, neat, tidy square and to this day, still keeps it in his wallet.  When he doesn’t feel like getting out of bed in the morning, he pulls out that tattered square, unfolds it, reads his two goals, and then gets up.  Those two goals are his reason for getting out of bed.  Those two goals are his purpose.

Do we have a plan?  Do we have a purpose?

Do we just jump into life and head off with a vague idea of where we’re going and the direction we’re headed in?  Do we dare jump out of a plane without checking the chute?  Do we climb hills and mountains without practice, without positioning our hands and feet just right lest we fall?  Tragically?

I think there are times in life for “chancing it”.  There are times when we can just “wing it”.  There’s a time and a place for that.

There are other times when we need to plan. There are times when we need to practice.  Most of the time, we need to have a goal and a direction.  Without it, like the climber who didn’t practice, who didn’t plan, who didn’t watch where a hand or foot was placed, we fail.  We fall.  Often, tragically.  Something to think about . . .

Live Your Life, and Make A Difference!