Aim

I've been packing up my apartment this week, and I found a little yellow legal pad on which I had recorded some thoughts. One of them was a quote from Prussian military theorist Carl von Clausewitz: "Pursue one great decisive aim with force and determination."

I'm a thinker. I've never been good at focusing. It's in my nature to tackle ten things with ten percent effort, rather than one thing with 100 percent. For example, I have six books on the "currently reading" list on Goodreads. 

In keeping with my theme of bringing things into order, I've been focusing this week on finishing what I start. Part of that for me is finishing the books I'm reading before I start any more.

One of the books I finally finished as a result is "Financial Peace: Revisited" by Dave Ramsey. In it, Ramsey says something to the effect of "Focused intensity over time is what moves the needle."

I'm a planner. I make lists. I'm not OCD, but I've found that one thing that calms my chaotic thoughts is a clear, concise, step-by-step vision of what I want my day, week, month, and year to look like. But when my life circumstances depend on factors outside of my control, I get nervous and anxious. I don't make lists, or confine my lists to inconsequential areas that don't bring any comfort or stability. 

So, for me, pursuing one great decisive aim with force and determination doesn't come naturally. But as I try, I begin to see results. Those results encourage me, and I start to feel like I can win.

True despair and hopelessness seems to come when one divorces one's efforts from one's results. A toxic fatalism sets in: "it doesn't matter what I do, I'll always fail, I'll always be stuck." 

But there are basic laws of the universe: What goes up must come down. There are also basic laws of finance, business, art, or any field of human endeavor: supply and demand, reciprocity, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. 

By learning the basic laws, one cultivates wisdom. By adapting oneself to the basic laws, one learns virtue: patience, fortitude, temperance, thrift. 

I believe the basic laws are found in the Bible. Several examples are found in the book of Proverbs, for example. 

I also believe that, since God is the source of Truth, the more I apply biblical laws to my life, the more Christ-like I become, and the more I will thrive and flourish. 

But the Clausewitz quote is about war, you retort. What does that have to do with being Christ-like?


"I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war."
-Revelation 19:11 (NIV)

"The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him; My father's God, and I will extol Him. "The LORD is a warrior; The LORD is His name. "Pharaoh's chariots and his army He has cast into the sea..."

-Exodus 15:2-4a (NIV)

  

How would the Bible respond to the quote? I think it's found here:

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters."

-Colossians 3:23


Then:


"In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

-Proverbs 3:6 (KJV)



So, in conclusion, act like God is your boss. Do what He says to do, and He'll make it clear what your next step is. And when that step becomes apparent, hit it with everything you've got.

That's my plan. Here goes.