50 Things To Do Before I'm 50 - Stretch Goals

This post is the fifth in a series of six daily posts where I'm sharing my 50 Things To Do Before I'm 50 list. I put this list together as I neared my 45th birthday last month, choosing goals and things to do in the next five years before my 50th birthday. Many of the items on the list are things I've never done and places I've never been, however the list also includes some items that I want to do again. Some are small, simple inexpensive things to do, while others require a much larger amount of time and/or financial investment. The actual list is in a rather random fashion, listed as items came to me, but for this blog series I'll be grouping similar items together.

Today I'm sharing what I'm calling "stretch goals" because these items will stretch me beyond my comfort zone and it's also a stretch whether these will actually be accomplished in the next five years.

The first item is to lead someone to Christ. While I strive to be a witness for the Lord in my daily life and I've taught everything from Children's Church to ladies Bible studies to the Young-at-Heart Sunday School, I've never actually been the person who prayed with someone as they gave their life to the Lord. My giftings are in teaching and administration, not evangelism. This is a stretch goal because it's not actually up to me whether or not it happens. The Bible says that some plant, others water, but it's God that gives the increase. However, I put this item on the list to remind me to be aware of opportunities to witness to others and share about Christ.

My second stretch goal is to earn a doctorate. This is something I've thought about quite a bit and wished I'd taken time to research the past couple of years. My plan is to do some research into doctoral programs this fall.

I'd also like to have something published. This may be a magazine article, the ladies retreat curriculum I wrote a couple of years ago, or a scrapbook layout. Just once I'd like to see something I did printed in a glossy magazine (before all the print magazines go away!).

And finally, I'd like to buy or start a business. Robbie and I actually looked into buying a Christian bookstore at one point years ago. We did some traveling and researched quite a few stores that were for sale, however we felt the timing was not right and we ended up in east Texas for a few years while Robbie completed his Bachelor's degree and I completed my Master's.

I have to admit that I hesitated putting these items on my 50 Things To Do Before I'm 50 list because it's possible that I won't accomplish them . . . or that I'll decide not to pursue one or more of these goals. However, I think having them on the list will give me the opportunity to do more research into what it would take to accomplish the goal and decide if it's right for me. Do you have any goals that will require you to stretch to reach them?

Tomorrow will be the last post in this series and I'll be sharing all the remaining items on my list. (Click here to see all my 50 Things To Do Before I'm 50 posts.)