Vision. What's that? I've heard my share of definitions over the years. The one that sticks with me is simple, A clear picture of a preferred future.

I can work with that, but the question is who's picture, who's preferred future? There are a number of voices that rise up and call for vision, almost always their version of the vision. Other folks say little about vision, seemingly happy to let someone else set the vision and direction.

My take on vision is that it comes from at least three places. The pastor, the people, the Father. I've been reading Exodus again as I look at Israels future from the perspective of the Promised Land. The land to the people meant everything. It meant a place to set down roots, to raise a family, to build community, to worship God, to revel in grand memories and celebrations, to bury their dead, to birth their living, in short, a place to live an energized life.

Their preferred future was wrapped up in those details. You begin to feel it's complexities come over you like a shadow cloud when you think of how tough it was for them to come together and see their vision through. Some would say they failed to see their vision through and most would certainly say that they failed to live out God's vision for themselves. But what a struggle it was. Sometimes you stand on the border of the promised land and you ache with frustration because you know you are not ready to go in, other times you cross the border and wonder how far into the territory you are going to make it before raiders come and swoop down on you with arrows and swords. The vision vultures and vision vampires are out there, somewhere. Will they kill the dream, the promise of a land all your own, or will they only serve to unite and empower and encourage the promised land seekers?

So I'm looking for the vision right now. I'm trying to listen to voices and asking questions, and trying to understand what the hearts and homes will look like as we press further into the land. It's an interesting time for me. I've got some strong ideas about direction and I find myself cautious and even holding back a bit. I wait for God to know when to strike out, to tear down the tents on this hill so that we can move toward that mountain.

I'm in a listening mode and a patient mode, at least as much as I can be patient. Martin Luther Kings words, I Have A Dream,  stir inside me, like liquid on the boil, not yet slapping out of the pot, but simmering, steaming, bubbling around in the pan. Open our ears Father for your word, the word of your family, and the word you've already placed within me. May we look back and conclude that Jesus painted the picture for us of that wonderful future.