‘Who shoots at the midday sun, though he be sure he shall never hit the mark, yet as sure as he is he shall shoot higher than who aims at a bush,’ wrote the poet, Philip Sidney.
I’ve been spending time of late clarifying what I’m shooting at as my lifetime vision. In the process, I’ve rediscovered how writing that vision down and keeping it visible is energising and encourages me to take steps towards its fulfilment.
The prophet Habbakuk captured this truth when he penned the words: ‘Write down the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.’ (Habbakuk 2:2)
I believe that, with a corporate vision, ‘that he may run’ refers to keeping the vision clear enough to encourage the reader to ‘run and tell others’. And a personal vision needs to be a visible, quickening exhortation to ‘run with it’ and put it into practice.
Connect your Charger
To remind me of my vision, some time ago I typed it onto the lock screen of my tablet so I’d read it every time I used the tablet (a digital one, unlike like the wooden ones of Habbakuk’s day).
After a while I overlooked the vision in my haste to open whatever app. Until one day, with the battery running low, I noticed these words right next to my vision statement: ‘connect your charger. ‘
To bring the vision alive, we need to connect with the Charger, who inspired it in the first place. Discovering or re-energising our vision involves setting aside quiet time and space to engage with God.
Habbakuk declared before receiving God’s instruction to ‘write down the vision’: ‘I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me.’
(I’m writing this on a stormy autumn day in central Scotland, so a rampart perhaps wouldn’t be the most conducive place).
What would living your dream look like?
As I made space to revisit my vision recently, I asked myself the question: “If I was living the dream, what would it look like?”
I already had an overriding lifetime vision, but also wanted to articulate the desires that flow from the dream, so I began to write down what shape these aspirations would take when realised.
Some of the areas were to do with intimacy with God, family, positively impacting others, business, health, good stewardship, relationships and recreation.
You can start living the dream now
What was obvious to me was that I could live out every single one of my desires now. Yes, the grand vision will take some time to manifest fully. But I can be living it now.
For example, if you or I want to influence thousands of people transformationally in our lifetimes, each one is an individual. So how we step out right now to touch lives one by one is part of that vision.
I can draw on divine inspiration right away. I can enjoy a half hour walk on the road to better fitness today (once the storm dies down!). I can reach out to someone to build a stronger bond of friendship. I can bring hope to someone today.
Where will you write your vision and desires to keep them visible? And what steps can you take today to start living the dream?
True Vine Time 