GOAAAAAAAAAAAL

As a part of my Lenten sacrifice I have given up listening to music on my computer and iPod and replaced it with Rediscovering Catholicism on tape (or mp3 or whatever it is).  I seriously LOVE Matthew Kelly.  He has so many awesome insights and a great way of communicating them.  I have been able to dive deeper into myself and my faith and ask some really essential questions. 

Today He asked, what is your ultimate goal?  I immediately answered, to get to Heaven.  Then I stopped and thought more deeply about my answer.  A goal is something we can reach, something that we work towards, and something we long to achieve.  Heaven is not a goal, Heaven is a gift. 

Picture from the motion picture The Truman Show 

I realized that even in my faith life I was focusing on what I could get; I wanted to get to Heaven. Even though getting to Heaven seemed like an honorable goal I was being selfish.  So I reconsidered what my goal should be.  This is what I decided: my new goal is to live each moment for the glory of God.  That is certainly a lofty goal but it is something that I can work towards.  I have control over how I act, I have no control over who gets to Heaven, because I am imperfect.  I know that this is not a goal that I will ever reach fully in this life, but it is something that I can discipline myself to improve upon. 

As Matthew Kelly states in his book, the most successful people have not gotten that way because of luck, they are that way because they have “unity of purpose”.  They do the things that help them reach their goal and do not do things that will not help them reach their goal.  That is the question with which I need to approach each seemingly minute decision I make, “will this help me reach my goal to live each moment for the glory of God?”  If the answer is yes, I should do it.  If the answer is no, I should not.  Simple enough, right?

However, as Kelly points out simple and easy are not the same thing.  I will struggle, I will stumble, but the beauty of a goal is the work you put in while moving towards it.  Heaven is no longer my goal, Heaven is a beautiful gift that has been awarded me through Christ’s sacrifice.  Thank you LORD for your generosity, I am so undeserving.

           What are your goals?  How do you discipline yourself to accomplish them? Any tips? Suggestions? Comments? Questions? Drop me a line in the comments below!