It would appear that I have not restricted how Google engages with me on my phone. Big brother is truly watching me.

I recently received my 2022 Google Maps timeline and it was quite interesting. Assuming it is fairly accurate, in 2022:

• I went to 9 countries, 72 cities, 495 places
• I travelled 74,503 kilometres
• I walked 1,005 kilometres
• I drove 33,230 kilometres
• I flew 39,282 kilometres
• I cycled 385 kilometres
• I spent 198 hours in restaurants

As it is early January, I am in the process of working through an annual reflection exercise as well. I am a reflective person on a consistent basis, yet there is something about the process of looking at a specific period of time – a year – and pausing to determine if you are living the life you desire to live. As they say, we overestimate what we can accomplish in a day and underestimate what we can accomplish in a year. So looking back on a year can be a good thing.

In all honesty though, I have seen more and more that most people don’t live life intentionally, they simply respond to what is in front of them, and typically mimic the actions and priorities of those around them. As one mentor has stated, “Most people don’t live their lives, they simply accept their lives.”

I had a mentoring call recently with a young man who truly desires to follow Jesus and have an impact. He was talking about the goals he wants to set for himself for the upcoming year, something he said he has never done before but believes it will truly help him live the life he believes God is calling him to. And yet, he knows he gets distracted easily and is fearful that he will be clear about the goals but then not achieve them. As the saying goes, “We have uphill aspirations and downhill habits.” I am looking forward to coming alongside him as he chooses intentionality for the upcoming year.

So as I look at my Google Maps report, it is good to consider how impactful these 9 country 72 city visits and 74,000+ kilometres of travel were. Can I declare that I lived intentionally in 2022? Was I in the places I was supposed to be with the people I was supposed to be with? When I sat in those restaurants, were the conversations meaningful, providing encouragement and challenge as appropriate? Can I say that I was living the life that I am so often calling others to live?

How about you? Are you swept up in the river of the culture around you, doing whatever those around you are doing? 

Reflect on these amazing verses in 1 Corinthians 2.

10 But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. 11 No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. 12 And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.

13 When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. 14 But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. 15 Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. 16 For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.

As you move into a new year, how is your mind? Is it in sync with the mind of Christ? Are you allowing God’s Spirit to search your spirit and reveal things to you? You see, “people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths.”

When you receive your “God Maps” at the end of 2023, what will it reveal about your year?

For the Kingdom.