I’ve enjoyed going through The Truth Project series several times the past few years. In one session, Dr. Tackett comments that that at various times in his life, he’s felt in a “cocoon.” He shares of instances where unanswered questions about life, God, and self envelop him and make clear thinking very challenging. However, just as the struggling process of breaking out of a cocoon is vital for a butterfly’s existence, our struggle through some of these challenging questions is absolutely necessary for our transformation into all that God has for us.
I’ve been in a cocoon lately, and the primary binding thread in the entire weave is one word: vision.
Ever since God began calling me to Colombia back in 2006, I’ve had a sense of vision. As we learned concepts of vision and goals in Bible school, assignments came easily for me, centered around two words: “gospel work” and “Colombia.” These two words gave me the direction I needed to pursue a very intentional training course. The trouble is, I’m now involved in “gospel work” in “Colombia”… and I’m not sure about vision anymore.
As I’ve torn away at this cocoon thread by thread, I’ve been very grateful for a few insightful friends and a myriad of inspiring blogs. I thought I’d give you a little picture into some of the key insights I’ve learned (I can’t take credit for any of these, they are simply a summary of what I’ve read and heard from others! Let me know if you’re interested, I’d be glad to pass on the sources).
Vision / purpose / strategy
It’s important not to confuse these three concepts – and especially important not to put strategy before vision.
VISION = the “what” or “where.” Where am I going? What am I building?
PURPOSE = the “why.” What is at stake? What’s my rationale? What if this doesn’t happen?
STRATEGY = the “how.” What steps are necessary to make this a reality? What must I do today?
Importance of the process
As I mentioned earlier, this process brings necessary growth. New understanding is born out of wrestling with these difficult questions. The process of discovering the vision is equally (if not more) important as the end result (the finalized vision).
Thinking big
“Realistic” thinking is an enemy to a God-given vision. Out of the twelve spies sent into the Promised Land in the book of Numbers, ten of them came back thinking realistically. Two of them recognized that God could move them past their present reality into the plan He had for them. Two of them moved into a new reality. Ten of them died in their present, “realistic” reality. “Realistic thinking is a sure path to mediocrity.”
Sharing
There’s something powerful about sharing the vision with some key people who will help refine it and define the necessary steps. However, there’s a danger in sharing the vision with the whole world. Research has uncovered the fact that receiving verbal affirmation for our vision or goal may actually make us less likely to complete it – because we get the “good feeling” of approval without actually accomplishing anything.
What have you learned about vision that you can share with me? What cocoons are you breaking through – or have broken through recently?