What's on Your Mind '09 - The Bucket List

This week's "What's on Your Mind, '09" is about what is on your bucket list. What do you hope to accomplish before your life ends? We've been asked to leave out the obvious such as wanting to see our kids married.


When I think about what I want to do before I die, I think in three areas. The first area is kind of superficial. For example, I'd like to visit every state in America. (I'm not even half there yet.) I'd like to go on a cruise. Those things are great, but if I don't get it done before I pass on, it's no tragedy. I'm sure the scenery in heaven will more than make up for what I missed here on earth.


The second area is victory in discipline. What I mean by that is that I don't want to die knowing that I never was able to be disciplined in my body or in my habits. When I go, I want to be at my goal weight. I want to leave this world with no unfinished business - no clutter in my house that needs to go, no work that should have been done.

Finally, in the most important area of all, spiritually I want to complete my calling. I've always felt that I have been called to be an encourager. I want to continue this until the day I go. More than that, I want to have the assurance that not only am I going to be with Jesus, but others whose lives I touched along the way will be there, too!

I realize I can't just float along through life and all these things will be magically done by the end of my life. I'm going to have to intentionally work at getting these things crossed off my list. It's a scary thought, but my time is already more than half over, even assuming I live to be really old. I'll have to have the Lord's help -- which brings to mind another question -- what is the Lord's bucket list for me? That's a whole 'nother post!

I'm going to indulge my love of listing, and actually write out a bulleted bucket list:

• Visit every state in the United States.
• Go on a cruise.
• Reach my goal weight.
• Be a published author.
• Know that I've made a positive spiritual influence for Christ on people. (I haven't figured out exactly how this can be measured, I may have to wait until I get there to find out!)

I also realize that the older I get, the less on that list will seem as important. And 5 years from now, that list could have different things on it. I know that the last item on my list is the really the most vital and will always be my main goal.

Visit Shane at Heart Reflections and see what others had to say about their bucket list.