Design · Culture · Spirituality

Five years from now

At lunch recently, Kiera asked me what my goals are for five years from now. I’ll be 31, almost.

For much of the last ten years, I have spent my life dreaming about the future. Ways that I could experience and learn about God and walk with others toward that experience and learning, ways that I could express truth and beauty through design, and ways that I could walk in and love justice, peace, and mercy.

Often, during those last ten years, I have had specific goals in those areas. For example, I wanted to start a missional coffeeshop that formed a community where people could experience God if they desired, or just engage in conversation, or just enjoy really good espresso. For another, I wanted to run my own design business. For yet another, I’ve had this random hope that I’d come up with an internet product of some kind.

Recently, I’ve somewhat moved toward the goal of forming or being part of a missional community, though probably not in a coffeeshop. I’ve thought of being a designer for a strong organization, working for justice. Any number of related things have gone through m head.

I had hoped that I might be close to one or more of these goals by the time I was about to turn 26. But I’m not, really. I have some wonderful connections that might or might not lead to things. I have some great things that I can be a part of, and hopefully journey along with, though I still feel like I’m outside of most of them (which I’ve learned is a common feeling, of course).

So, as I sit here, not tangibly close to any of my goals, but within the realm of possibility of any of them, I didn’t know what to say to Kiera. That scares me a little. As I reflect upon it and write this, I think it is partly because I sit in that tension between not being tangibly close, but sitting within the realm of possibility.

4 Comments

  1. I have long been highly respectful of your goals and your focus on them. And, also a remarkable ability to hupomeno, if you will,to keep on keeping on. While some of the goals may have yet to be attained, I would choose to believe that the solid foundation that has been laid makes them closer than you think.

    Shalom

  2. Jon, I just want to commend you for having these goals. I think so many people go through life just waiting for things to come their way rather than purposely seeking and asking God to lead them to discern His will for their lives. Some of our goals may change as we grow in Christ,but we need to remember that God is indeed in control. He will give us our heart’s desires as we listen to and read His Word, and do his word. There is no better guide to help us now and in the future. Love,Mom

  3. […] I’ve often thought that this movement could be something that I could be a part of, and think that even more after reading its story in more detail. But one of the fascinating things happened right after my post about not knowing where I’d like to be in five years. […]

  4. dude. that’s one thing I think people like you and me do. Is we think 5 years in advanced and get the hell scared out of us.

    (I’ll have a five year old.) Anyway. You’ve accomplished so much already, and in the process taught me a lot about life.

    If being a great friend is on your list, check it off, cause you already are..

    Now…

    About that coffee shop…….

About the Designer

Jonathan Stegall is a web designer and emergent / emerging follower of Jesus currently living in Atlanta, seeking to abide in the creative tension between theology, spirituality, design, and justice.

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