Milestones and Ebenezers

Life will inadvertently make you choose to celebrate or regret. It’s not based on your personality test or how you are wired. Either you recognize that goals are eventually placed before you or are things you plan to achieve.

The life expectancy for men is on the decline. It’s somewhat lower for Black men. Crime and the government are huge factors to this. Health is another one. But here’s the thing: goals are always looming.

So is the glass half-full or half-empty? I’m beginning to think our answer to this question is determined by how we view goals. It’s amazing to me to see and meet high school juniors and seniors with zero goal aspirations for their lives. Some aren’t even focused on graduating as much as they are with not having to sit in classrooms. To play the upmanship game, I’m far more puzzled when these kids are athletes. I can’t recall going into a season without personal and team goals. In fact, almost every job has personal and team goals for every employee, as do most schools that actually care about students.

While life forces us to decisively enjoy what we have accomplished or bemoan it, one must never lose sight of the milestones and Ebenezers that come with it. The cool thing about this is even young people get to participate. Perhaps, adults ought to be in a constant state of learning from kids. They decide to celebrate often. And then adults come along with an Ebenezer in hand to commemorate.

What’s lost in all of this is goals and appreciation. Goals will come regardless if we set them or not. Appreciation will not. But this can change. It’s nigh time we set out to create milestones as goals such that we can learn to celebrate what happens in our lives. Due to my faith base, I strongly hold that God would have his people celebrate in all the ways he moves and governs our lives from celebration to celebration.

When will you choose to celebrate? Go out and look back at a milestone you’ve reached, look for an Ebenezer there of value, and appreciate what you accomplished.

Go out and look back at a milestone you didn’t reach that actually would’ve brought more harm than good into your lives, look around for an Ebenezer there of value, and be thankful that you didn’t get what you wanted leading you to great regret. Then celebrate.

I personally want to encourage everyone I know that set goals. High and lofty goals. Pursue them. Be amazed by how far you go. Regret not taking chances. Bemoan the fear that holds you back. But celebrate often what you do on a daily basis that leads to weekly achievements that capture monthly joy pointing to yearly milestones. Then set up tangible Ebenezers for the sake of that joyful celebration.

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