Drafting Blueprints, Part 7

Starting thinking about what to write (and all your hard-to-answer questions) and decided it was time for another “Blueprints” post. If you have no idea what a “Blueprints” post is, here is a basic overview and links to the first 6 parts.

My “Blueprint” series is essentially a mechanism for me to start thinking through my life goals. And as hard humiliating as it is to admit some of the things I want to achieve in life, I am trying to be painfully honest because (for some crazy reason) I feel like I need to put them “out there.”

Part 1 – I want to get married.

Part 2 – I want to get fit.

Part 3 – I want to get my hands dirty.

Part 4 – I want to cultivate deep and authentic friendships.

Part 5 – I want to have kids.

Part 6 – I want to master the art of living.

I want to be able to differentiate between want and need.

I grew up surrounded by affluence. I grew up in a community where success was too often measured by the title on your business card, the size of your bank account, the car you drove, the places you had traveled, and the street you lived on. And oh, how I loved love the privilege that came comes with my affluence.

Truth be told, I am a spoiled brat by all practical standards. I have a hard time differentiating between want and need. I have a hard time understanding how much is enough. I have a hard time giving extravagantly because I am too busy living extravagantly.

Don’t get me wrong…I give. I sponsor two children. I tithe. I step out in faith (or in reasonable faith) when my pastor asks us to think about how we can help expand the vision of our church.

But what I still haven’t managed to do, with any success, is sacrifice. I haven’t managed to stop indulging in my long list of wants – eating out, extravagant vacations, a new pair of shoes. I haven’t realized that just because I WANT something doesn’t mean that I NEED it.

My goal is that over the next year I can make some real sacrifices so I can give extravagantly, instead of selfishly living extravagantly.