I’ve been working on fixing up the family room in my house by
tearing down paneling and putting up drywall in its place. Once I finish, I’ll be putting up new trim
and crown molding, changing the outlets, and (with much assistance) installing
a new French door.
I can see the picture of exactly what I want it to look like
in my head. Crisp, white trim will line
the ceiling and floor. A deep gray color
will cover the walls. And a few rich, dark
accents will make everything stand out. In
my head, it looks fantastic. And with each
step I take in the process, the reality around me starts to look more and more
like the vision in my head. It’s
exciting.
Although I’m not in a particular rush to get the project
done, I don’t want to be staring at exposed mud and tape in September. Much sooner than that, I should be able to sit
down on the couch with a glass of iced tea in hand and say to myself, “Job well
done.”
But sometimes my choices betray my vision. When faced with the choice to climb a rickety
step ladder with a drill in hand or to sit on the couch with a remote, I often
choose the couch. And each time I choose
the La-Z-Boy instead of the ladder, I am making a choice to not reach my
goal. I am making a choice to give up my
vision for another day.
Why would I ever purposely choose to give up my goals? Why would anyone
allow a good, attainable vision simply slide out of reach?
The truth is that we wouldn’t. We would not so easily give up our dreams if
we kept them in front of us. The problem
is that our dreams fall into the background, overshadowed by a hazy fog of ambivalence
or pushed to the side by bright flashing distractions that surround us.
We know that we can’t put up drywall while sitting on the
couch. We know that we can’t lose weight
by eating donuts. We know that we can’t
advance in our careers without learning new skills.
And we know that we can’t follow Christ without actually doing
what he says. We know that we can’t make
disciples if we never speak the truth.
We know that we can’t grow in our relationship with God without reading his
word.
We know these things.
But often our actions do not match our goals.
So what’s your goal?
What’s your vision? Are you
making the choices today that will make that vision a reality tomorrow?
Someday soon, I want to put the ladder away and say to
myself, “Job well done.” But more than
that, someday soon, I want to hear Jesus Christ say, “Well done, good and
faithful servant! You have been faithful
with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”
(Matt. 25:21 & 23). Am I living
today in a way that will make that a reality?
