Jimbo's Jots

I often ask my counseling clients, “What do you want to accomplish in counseling?” or “What are we working on today?” I want to gauge where the client feels they need to grow. I want to hear their big picture. I want to know “The End?” How are they writing the story and how do they think they can get there? Most of the time, they feel stuck writing their story and getting to the end. They have trouble seeing what the end looks like. So, I am asked to step in and help them process where they have been, what they see as the ending. And usually, they want a new ending to their story.

This leads to some goal setting. What parts of their life do they want to see growth? What does it look like? What is the end? Then, we begin to tackle the idea of “how do we get there?” Next step, then, is what do I have to do to get to the end. And the process of re-writing the end starts.

And then I think of Paul as he writes to the church in Philippi:

I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. (Philippians 3:10-12, New International Version)

So let’s break this down based on what happened to Paul (hopefully you are aware of the story):

Paul was once known as Saul, a Pharisee who persecuted Christians. He had an encounter with Jesus on a road while trying to accomplish said goal. This encounter changed Paul’s story. He had to rewrite the ending.

Paul’s new goal? Knowing Christ, to the point of suffering and dying, like Christ so as to experience the resurrection as Jesus did. This is the end of the story for Paul!

Paul, are you there yet? “Not yet, but I know what the end of the story looks like. I’m going to continue to work at it until I get there!”

Let me add, if I may . . . whatever your end goal is, that will be what you work for. What is the ultimate goal in life? What will it look like as you say, “This is ‘THE END!'”

Be blessed along your road! Be a blessing to others along the way (and that would be a good end to your story, just sayin’!)