Planning & Preparation for Decisions

Planning is a subject that is often perceived to be avoided by many individuals. Not sure why this fact is so but many folks like to live by the 'seat of their pants' so to speak and at all cost avoid due diligence when it comes to planning and preparation. Often the expression has been shared with the non-planning group that "No planning is planning to fail". I personally don't believe that quote helps to motivate the un-planning mindset but nevertheless some think the slogan is a requirement to share when up against that type of attitude. If you were to sit down in a formal counseling session with a Psychiatrist, a Mental Health Professional, Pastoral Counselor or some other source of counseling and information you would no doubt hear that the best planning would be done prior to the immediate hour of decision. Even decisions at the emergency hour are best thought out in-advance. This type of preplanning prepares us in facing challenging situations and preplanning prepares us for not only living life to it's fullest, but it prepares us for facing death and eternity. In writing about planning the need is most urgent for discussion among our family and friends. Decisions that I believe require preplanning to best prepare one for life involve the choice about use of alcohol, tobacco, sexual activities, drugs and even the selection of characteristics we seek in our friendships. Planning for the moment you will face these situations that require a decision will arrive. Delaying the discussion with our children, teenagers and even adult children can be devastating if left unchecked without a discussion of their opinion, thoughts and considerations. The wrong decisions have often been made in a split second choice because of the lack of practice in thinking about making the correct decision. Time hands to each of us a limited opportunity. The Bible shares with us that each of us has but a limited amount of time here on earth. Some might like to live with the attitude that they are 'lucky' and things just always work out for them. This type of thinking is false and while it might appear on the outside that there are merits to such thoughts, the end of life teaches another lesson. Often we are handed little time to correct wrong decisions and in some situations we are handed no time. Planning requires immediate attention, otherwise you and I will run out the gift of time and opportunity. There are many things for us to learn from planning and preparation. We learn from thinking things out what we value. What thoughts and beliefs do we really cherish and what discovery can we make that identifies what is really important. Who in our lives really matters? This question can only be answered by thinking about the people that have impacted our lives and then the answer easily dictates to our living actions kindness, love and caring that is only discovered because we preplanned our lives to this decision. I have predetermined that of all the people I have ever met, including my immediate family the most important person to me is Jesus Christ. That is not a preachy answer even though it sounds that way. That is a personal choice from experience and there is no changing my decision. Until then