The whole concept of a bucket list makes me somewhat uncomfortable.  I mean, why am I contemplating my own death so soon in life that I’m making the to-do list I must get done before the day comes?  My mother would probably have said I was “tempting fate.”

And what do I put on there?  There are important things like “Tell my children that I love them.” But I do that often because I realize each time might be the last.  So, I don’t have that on the list.  Do I put trivial stuff on there, like “I want to win at least ONE game of rummy with my wife” (She ALWAYS wins!)?  And I know better than to put something on there over which I have no control at all, like “I want to have at least one grand-child.”  Not only have I no control over that, I don’t want to put that kind of pressure on my children.

There’s also that nagging feeling that if I complete the entire list, I might really be setting the stage for my own demise.  I do enough other stupid things that I don’t need to push it.

Seriously, though, I can’t help thinking of a verse out of the Book of Proverbs when I consider bucket lists.  “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps” (Prov. 16:9).  That verse is intriguing, because the Hebrew word that is translated “determines” has at least one other likely meaning.  The New Jerusalem Bible translates it, “The human heart may plan a course, but it is Yahweh who makes the steps secure.”  In other words, when we decide to do something under the Lord’s guidance, God is the one who makes it happen.

Now, I know God probably isn’t too interested in some of the things I have on my bucket list.  He probably doesn’t care whether I visit Australia or not.  Unless, of course, he has put the desire on my heart.  Then, it’s pretty important.  So, the contents of my bucket list have been a subject of prayer for me of late.

That having been said, I have accomplished at least one item on my list.  I have written a book.  You can learn a bit more about it here.  The exciting part about this (besides the obvious) is that I really believe this bucket list item was from God, and not some hopeful fancy.  It has been way too long in coming, but if it’s from God, it’s right on time.

There’s a popular saying out there that goes something like, “If you want to hear God laugh, tell him what you’ve got planned.”  I think that’s true in many respects, but I also believe that he takes some of those plans very seriously.

So, maybe it’s time for us to review our bucket lists (or maybe even start one if we haven’t), and see where God figures into what is there.  I don’t know about you, but it’s really helpful to know that the Lord is involved in getting some of it done.  I know I, for one, can use the help.