The Next 25

Can this really be true….next June I’ll have been out of college 25 years?

WOW,

just wow,

where has the time gone?                                              

Milestones for most folks revolve around birthdays and anniversaries, and for the most part they do for me as well; but this milestone has been a little tough to process.

I think at some point early on I created a mental timeline of what I hoped to accomplish by certain dates, some of which had to do with the expectations I had for myself and probably to some degree my interpretation of what others expected of me. College graduation by 1986, married by 19vv, head up sales for a dealership by 19ww, 2.5 kids by 19xx, run a dealership by 19yy, own a dealership by 19zz.

It’s funny how clarity is something that has a habit of finding you in the midst of you trying to find it; and this past Sunday it happened once again for me while at Buckhead Church listening to Pastor Andy Stanley’s Game Plan message about God’s will for our lives:

 “Your life is the sum total of the decisions you made and the influence of other decisions made about you.”

The timing of the message mixed with this looming milestone created some uneasy, yet healthy tension as I reflected over my last 25 years and using this statement as a filter. There have been so many twists, so many turns, accomplishments, disappointments; dreams that still exist and dreams that are long since gone, but the question that burns bright and one that excites me is; what will the next 25 look like?

I recently saw this tweet by Carey Nieuwhof:

“your windshield is bigger than your rear-view mirror for a reason”

I truly believe in the sentiment of the tweet and the importance of recognizing where you’ve been so you can focus on where you’re going; and something I plan on using to influence and shape my Next 25 years.

                                     FAMILY                                     FINANCES

                                                              FAITH

                                 FITNESS                                    FRIENDS

A few years ago a mentor shared with me something he called the 5F’s and how by focusing on these core areas they had established a foundation for how he was living his life. Essentially if you think of your life as something under construction, the foundation would have four footings with one center footing that interconnects the other four adding stability and support.

For me the adoption and implementation of 5F focusing in my life the last two years has led to a radical shift in my priorities. This shift in focus forced me to live more intentionally in all five areas, something I can honestly say I did not do very well in my first 25. For me, focusing on Faith first was essential because it functions like rebar supporting, connecting, and at times reinforcing the other four. And once the other four were connected through Faith in a real and personal way, I had a foundation (life) structured to withstand the twists and turns that life throws at you, including cancer. 

Over the next few posts I’m going to highlight each of the 5F’s. I’ll give you a snapshot of what what I have in that rear-view mirror from my first 25 and what is on the horizon through that big windshield as I apply the 5F’s to my next 25.

Some questions to ponder and I’d love to hear your thoughts as you look back and look forward!

-Have you experienced seasons where the past hindered your future?

-Is there something you see in the windshield that needs to finally move into your rear-view mirror?

~Tom

trusting God period

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