Can you see your future?

[memoriesbymichelle]

Can you see your future? Can you visualize how your life will be in the years ahead? Does it bother you if you can't? Is it wrong to not have dreams?

I can't visualize my future. I hope to see my kids thru college. I hope they get scholarships cuz I can't afford to pay for them. I hope they turn out to be successful human beings.

I am of the opinion that eventually Jesus will be coming back and I believe that will happen in my lifetime if my life is not cut short.

I have never really been able all my life to set goals about the future. Like I've never been able to say, in 5 years I'm gonna blah blah blah...Or I'm going to save this much in this amount of time or I'm going to go here or there. I didn't plan the children I do have. At the time my husband had 3 kids already and we didn't want more. I quit using birth control and it took 5 years before we had my first son. I wouldn't change ANY of that and it took 3 years later to have my second son. But now that my husband has passed I am just happy to work at my job (which doesn't seem very stable thanks to the economy) and go to church and meet my girlfriends once a week for dinner. There are LOTS of things I would LIKE to do. Travel would be one for sure, but I don't have money so that makes that kinda hard. I can't visualize if I will date, get married or remain single either. THAT drives me nuts that I can't visualize ANYTHING. Should I be able to? Is that what is keeping me from my dreams? my lack of being able to "see" it?

 

[dayhiker]

Interesting questions MbM.

I can visualize some things. I have a long term goal to hike all of the Appalachian Trail. I've been working on it for over 20 years now. No time from is set as to when I'll finish it.

I've no plans to get married. But I sure don't want to be single as in no relationship with a female. So I'm quite content now with a long term GF.

I don't think I'll have the ability to advance at work .. no plans to be a manager. But I do see myself completing 7 yrs or so of work and then retiring. Hope to be able to do some traveling. I'd be happy to car camp around the west some day. Spend a little money to see the attractions and rent a camp site at a camp ground .. maybe occasionally a hotel room.

But I don't have a list of goals with dates they are to be completed.

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

OK good that makes me feel a little better. I mean I DO have some goals, but they are more personal goals as to things like exercising more, eating better, getting involved in a ministry, learning more about God. Mainly feel good things and no set time frames either except I AM going to wait until after the 1st of the year for the things relating to diet etc. Too many holidays to NOT enjoy the food with lol.

 

[dayhiker]

mmmmmmm ... ya just over a week till the turkey and gray on potatoes is served ...
I should have trued to set up two meals that day!

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

mmmmmmm ... ya just over a week till the turkey and gray on potatoes is served ...
I should have trued to set up two meals that day!

There is still time

 

[dayhiker]

yup ...

 

[peacechild4]

Right now sis I just cannot see into the future.. and I try very hard not too.. I get too depressed.. I just try to be thankful about today.. and although I dream of being happy in a relationship and that the children and I are happy and contented.. I just cannot look forward for some reason..

 

[iambren]

I'm a "P" not a "J" for those Meyers-Brigs lovers out there which means I'm not a natural planner. My life has turned out SO SO different than what I guessed that I've sorta givin' up. Sure I want a good Christian woman and want to retire-travel gracefully. I'm open to whatever God wants me to do in blessing others. Other than that......?

I did, once, live a plan. It was great. The very first day I put my foot on the Ohio State campus I knew the next 7 years and the subjects I would take to become an optometrist. It took work but I simply tread that road that seemed preordained for me. After that I would never guess the variety of twists and turns, the unusual events as He was faithful!

 

[peacechild4]

Sigh I just saw something that makes me know where my future IS NOT...

 

[mjmcmillan]

If I could see the future, I wouldn't be broke right now. Knowing what will happen if you take a given course is reserved to God and those He tells, as far as I know.

Of course, you have probabilities, but things have a way of changing and producing unexpected results.

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

If I could see the future, I wouldn't be broke right now. Knowing what will happen if you take a given course is reserved to God and those He tells, as far as I know.

Of course, you have probabilities, but things have a way of changing and producing unexpected results.

Well.....I didn't really mean crystal ball kind of "seeing your future" lol. I guess I meant something more like can you visualize your future. In other words when you think ahead, what do you see? I can't see it either and even if I could visualize it, that doesn't make it so. I can't see whether I will be single for the rest of my life or....will I meet someone that I will spend the rest of my life until Jesus comes IDK. Some people DO look ahead and see their future or what they hope will become their future. That's more what I was asking. Does that make sense?

 

[iambren]

Your question is frustrating to me. Probably because I'm in a slump and could use some goal enhancement. When you get the rug pulled out from you it's stunning. It takes a while to pull yourself together to tackle the world. I'm providing, bein' a good dad, and living a holy life but seems right now like I'm treading H2O.

Theologically, Jesus says to not take any thought for tomorrow. Yet we get life insurance, save for college, write a will. At the same time we are to "lay up treasures in heaven". Wisdom needed for balance.

 

[JohnDB]

Your question is frustrating to me. Probably because I'm in a slump and could use some goal enhancement. When you get the rug pulled out from you it's stunning. It takes a while to pull yourself together to tackle the world. I'm providing, bein' a good dad, and living a holy life but seems right now like I'm treading H2O.

Theologically, Jesus says to not take any thought for tomorrow. Yet we get life insurance, save for college, write a will. At the same time we are to "lay up treasures in heaven". Wisdom needed for balance.

Thats not exactly true...Jesus said not to worry about tomorrow because He will supply your needs.
That doesn't mean not to buy life insurance or save for retirement.
There is a major difference between our culture and theirs in that we don't concern ourselves with legacy as that culture did. It means not to worry so much about future generations that come after us...don't harrass your kids into particular careers when they want to do something different...don't amass a huge inheritance for them (which was their primary goal).

I know for sure I have short term and long term goals....and yes, I am a "P" and not a "J" on that personality profile. That has nothing to do with it.

All plans and goals work towards one thing and one thing only. But I am a bit odd to start with...not everyone does that sort of thing.

Some find goals and they stumble upon them...and that is fine too.

Just because I am working diligently up against the current towards a particular goal doesn't mean that I am better or have it more together...it means that I worry more. And that ain't exactly a good thing.

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

Your question is frustrating to me. Probably because I'm in a slump and could use some goal enhancement. When you get the rug pulled out from you it's stunning. It takes a while to pull yourself together to tackle the world. I'm providing, bein' a good dad, and living a holy life but seems right now like I'm treading H2O.

Theologically, Jesus says to not take any thought for tomorrow. Yet we get life insurance, save for college, write a will. At the same time we are to "lay up treasures in heaven". Wisdom needed for balance.

Well I certainly didn't mean to frustrate you. Maybe this will spur the goal enhancement you say you need. I understand about the rug being pulled out, truly I do. It's a whole different animal when it's a death, and it truly is polarizing for a time. IMO our life on this Earth will be judged by how we live it for Jesus. I have a hard time making goals and long term plans because I don't know when Jesus will come back, but it doesn't mean I don't have life insurance or a retirement account. I feel like I am just existing some days and other days I am perfectly content. That's just life for me I guess. And Jesus did say not to worry about tomorrow but I believe he is speaking about worrying about things we cannot control or change. In other passages like Matthew 16:3 Jesus chastises them for being able to discern the face of the sky (weather) but not the signs of the times. So I do think he wants us to plan, but being careful to know that our plans might be interrupted or exchanged for HIS plan IYKWIM

 

[dayhiker]

Another way to think about Jesus and planning, is Jesus didn't rebuke the farmer who planted crops for their livelihood. So he wasn't saying don't plant, just walk thru the land and you will find the food you need. I've spend days walking thru the land and I find very little food in the woods to eat. It would be extremely hard for a few people to find food enough to live on, let alone the masses.

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

That's a good one dayhiker! It's just that we can't WORRY about it, like sit and fret and contemplate it.

 

[Jeremiah1]

I do try to set goals and visualize them. It's not always easy though. That which I visualize is often such a far cry from present reality. But then, if I don't shoot for it then that will always be the case.

Earlier this year I finally sat down and made a list of 100 things to do before I die. (Ok, I fell a few short and am still working to complete the list.) It really got my creative juices flowing and motivated me to start taking small steps towards their accomplishment. Already I've been able to check a couple off the list, and a few more are within reach.

I would encourage everyone here to do the same. Don't let the slump you are in stop you. Just get going, write down 100 things you'd like to do before you die (spiritual, personal, family, health, etc.) and when you are done, tell me if you don't feel any different.

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

Ah yes the infamous bucket list. The things I want to do cost money though lol money I don't have. I don't know if I want to list 100 things, but some things maybe. I'm not a real goal oriented person. I never say things like "in 5 years I'm going be doing such and such" I just can't do it. But I might plan for a vacation that is a few months away, but still knowing that the plans could change.
I was trying to visualize if I will remain single or get re-married, which if you look at my life right now I am destined to be single since I haven't been even on a date in the last 6 years but still I wonder. I just can't picture either way and it kinda bothers me a little.
Yeah I get the whole I planned it this way, but the Lord had other ideas and mine never materialize kind of thing. Things for me, NEVER turn out how I expect or think they will lol. And if they DID, I wouldn't have started this thread to see if there are others out there like me. I just want what the Lord wants for me, but right now I don't know what that is for sure. I think I would kinda like to re-marry but IDK for sure. I also like my freedom to do whatever I want when ever I want and I already have my kids to consume some of my time, so another person wanting some of my time IDK how that would work, but well I just don't know that it.

 

[Jeremiah1]

Ah yes the infamous bucket list. The things I want to do cost money though lol money I don't have. I don't know if I want to list 100 things, but some things maybe. I'm not a real goal oriented person. I never say things like "in 5 years I'm going be doing such and such" I just can't do it. But I might plan for a vacation that is a few months away, but still knowing that the plans could change.
I was trying to visualize if I will remain single or get re-married, which if you look at my life right now I am destined to be single since I haven't been even on a date in the last 6 years but still I wonder. I just can't picture either way and it kinda bothers me a little.
Yeah I get the whole I planned it this way, but the Lord had other ideas and mine never materialize kind of thing. Things for me, NEVER turn out how I expect or think they will lol. And if they DID, I wouldn't have started this thread to see if there are others out there like me. I just want what the Lord wants for me, but right now I don't know what that is for sure. I think I would kinda like to re-marry but IDK for sure. I also like my freedom to do whatever I want when ever I want and I already have my kids to consume some of my time, so another person wanting some of my time IDK how that would work, but well I just don't know that it.

I hear you and appreciate your heart on the matter. Indeed we should all trust in the Lord and want what He wants. But at the same time we do have a hand in creating our own destiny and there are certain things we can do to help shape it into a good one.

In your case i wouldn't make a list of 100 lofty out there kind of things, but maybe just 10 that are not so far out there and would seem more within reach from where you are and help out. They don't have to be huge or expensive. A few that come to mind from what little I can gather from your comments:

1-Send some cards out to others I know who are struggling. (When struggling, one of the best things we can do to lift ourselves up is be a friend to others.)
2-Remember a game I enjoyed playing as a kid and play it with my kids some time this holiday season.
3-Enjoy a sunset or sunrise away from all electronics.
4-Go eat at a place I enjoy but haven't been to in a while that doesn't cost more than the normal food I eat anyway.
5-Spend a few minutes smiling and laughing for no good reason at all.

Keep it simple. Little things can impact your mood and make a difference.

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

good ideas. Thanks.