I always get excited at the beginning of the school year by all the possibilities that this year could bring. Even out of school, many of our activities follow this schedule, as bible studies and community events start back up around this time. With so much on offer, it’s easy for me to overload my plate with things that look exciting, but might not ultimately serve my There and even take away time from things that help me walk the Path. These activities are not bad in themselves: for me they look like volunteering for kid’s church, serving on the worship team, attending a bible study, singing in a community choir, joining a book club, etc. But if I fill my plate with too many of these things, then I might start to be governed by the urgent instead of by my There. Instead, I need to prioritize my time to help me achieve my Transcendent There.
Problem Solving
One of the ways that people misguidedly try to implement the There-Here-Path is by creating a Here-There-Path. They start with what their current problems are, or what seems urgent in the moment, and then get “there” by solving these problems. The issue with this approach is that it doesn’t work towards a vision for the future and only focuses on the moment. There will always be “urgent” things that pop up in the moment and demand our attention. But focusing on the Here will ultimately be unfulfilling if there’s no There to guide it.
Similarly, if I fill my time with lots of activities that sound fun, but don’t necessarily help me fulfill my There, I will get easily burnt out and run down from all of the hustle. Although these activities might be fun, they need to serve a greater purpose.
Goal Setting
Another method of There-Here-Path implementation is goal setting. A correction from problem solving, goal setting recognizes that our actions need to be oriented towards something. However, these goals are little “t” theres that can be accomplished. We need to have goals, as they help us break down our steps on the Path. But if we stop there, then we won’t know why we’re making the goals we do and will lose the motivation to complete them.
For example, my desire to join a book club is in service to my goal of continued learning and community building. But why do I want to do those things? Knowing the reason behind my desire for learning and community will help when the group picks a book I find challenging or when the group disagrees. I need a Transcendent There to guide me through these moments and help me achieve my goals. That brings us to the third method of There-Here-Path implementation:
Vision Casting
If you start with your Transcendent There, your vision for your life, all other things can be evaluated based on how they align with this vision. Your Transcendent There is not a goal that you can one day check off, but a personal mission statement that you are always working towards.
For example, my Transcendent There is to be a space-maker. I want to make space in my life, home, and heart to be with others and to create things together. So, when considering the different ways I can spend my time this year, I can think about how they help me achieve this vision. I also must recognize that just because I say no to an activity for now, doesn’t mean that I’m saying no to it forever. I could argue that choir, book club, and bible study can all help me achieve my There, but I also do not have the time for all of them. I must prioritize based on my There, but also make choices from there.
Having a Transcendent There for your life can help you prioritize your time and choose which activities will best serve your vision.
Gracie McBride is the Content and Systems Development Coordinator at The Crossroad.
