Envisioning Something Good

by Maiya

"Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new. It's bursting out! Don't you see it?"

-Isaiah 43:19, MSG

Some say that inspiration is everywhere.

Some seem hopeful and convinced that goodness, even when hidden, is always present.

"Sure, it is!" we might say.

But is our tone full of conviction, or sarcasm?

Because there are times...

when the "same old things" keep recurring, and it's hard to imagine new things.

Or when the "same old ways" persist, and it's difficult to foresee new ways.

Or when the "same old thoughts" lead to the "same old feelings" and the "same old behaviors,"

and hope seems invisible.

"Here we go again," a hopeless voice may echo, forebodingly.

But if all we can see is that we're "stuck," it's a serious situation.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick. Proverbs 13:12

Hope, the precursor of our vision, must not be deferred or delayed.

A sick heart requires urgent care - because the heart circulates to the whole body.

And without hope as the oxygen of our heart and soul, there can be no life.

Do we have a hopeful vision?

And are we envisioning Something Good?

Does it matter?

We hear about the importance of visioning, or envisioning, to define the desired future,

in multiple aspects of life.

But sometimes it's helpful to have someone who asks questions about our vision-

someone who might just look us straight in the eyes to get to the heart of the matter.

Someone to ask:

"Do you see all these things?"

"What is it you want?"

"What do you think?"

"What do you want me to do for you?"

Because we don't tend to do differently unless we see differently.

And often, we need a trusted helper to examine our vision and reflect back our in-sights.

Otherwise, we risk being blind to the obvious,

or having a blurry view of our resources,

or being dizzied by our double-vision, our lack of focus.

If we truly want to see change, we have to work on our vision.

And since inspiration is everywhere, (sure, it is!) -

there it was, playing out on a show to help couples manage their finances.

The host, an expert in financial matters, helps couples ask themselves,

"What is my 'rich' life?"

At first, I wasn't interested in seeing a show about some get-rich quick scheme.

"Give it a chance," my trustworthy husband urged. "You might see it differently."

It turns out a 'rich' life is less about dollars,

and more about the fulfillment of goals, dreams and desires.

And it turns out that envisioning our goals, dreams and desires-

and communicating these-

can help us to see ourselves, our resources and our solutions differently.

During a recent show, a fearful couple arrived, unable to focus or make decisions.

But in hope and desperation, they had shown up!

The couple began by describing their lack of communication around finances.

"Too many feelings and frustrations come up, so we don't get anywhere," they bemoaned.

They shared with the host about their (perceived) scarcity and their fears about never having enough.

The host asked questions:

"Do you see all these things?"

"What is it you want?"

"What do you think?"

"What do you want me to do for you?"

The couple squirmed with discomfort.

The host was kind, but clear:

"Go do your homework. Read, study, and identify what you have.

And then, create a vision, what it is you want -

because your vision makes your decision."

"But wait," the couple balked as they shared their problems, hardships and issues getting in the way.

The host was clear, but kind.

"I want to validate the hard things, but validation goes only so far:

it needs to be paired with your active participation."

Slightly stunned, the guests realized that they had arrived wanting to have their problems solved.

Immediately.

But the host and helper was there to ask them questions,

to reflect back their resources, tapped and untapped,

to help them to see differently,

and to prompt communication, with themselves and with each other.

And then?

They needed to Create a vision. Articulate the vision. Envision Something Good.

Would they be up to the task?

(It is always fascinating to see which guests commit to their homework and return, and which guests don't.)

Good news...

this particular couple returned having done their homework.

They created a vision around their family needs, their free-time, and their generosity.

Working with the host and helper, they were able to see possibility - even abundance - right in front of them.

Working with a clear vision, every decision became clear.

And good news...

Even though I couldn't see it at first,

I took a chance to see a show at the prompting of a trustworthy guide.

I saw differently...and I found redeeming value!

Our vision makes our decision.

Envisioning something good must matter, because it makes for good decisions.

No matter the struggle, the struggle matters.

And because inspiration is everywhere, (sure, it is!) - we may be able to see more clearly what matters.

At first it may take time to determine which helpers are trustworthy.

Many helpers might suggest that we follow their advice and imitate their books or guidance.

But One Helper invites us to follow Him and to imitate His being.

This helper has been known to be Someone Who cares enough to ask direct questions,

someone who looks straight into our eyes to get to the heart of the matter:

"Do you see all these things?" (Matt. 24:2), Jesus redirects when the disciples are distracted from the truth.

"What do you think?" (Matt. 21:28), Jesus asks, after sharing a parable with His listeners.

"What is it you want?" (Matt. 20-21), Jesus asks when a desperate mother approaches Him.

"What do you want me to do for you?" ( Matt. 20:32), Jesus asks when He is stopped by the crowd.

An Irish prayer and hymn names a luminous vision indeed:

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart,

Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art;

Thou my best thought in the day and the night,

Waking or Sleeping, Thy presence my Light.

Is it possible that this Vision could lead to

openness of our own blurred vision,

openness to the things blinding us to what really matters,

openness to how our double-vision and duplicity prevent our single focus?

It sounds like this will take some time, this envisioning something Good.

But taking steps,

reading and studying the Word,

what might we see and learn about God's vision for us?

Naming and claiming our Vision,

what decisions and resources might become more clear?

Communicating - in prayer, with others, with ourselves,

what might we witness?

With eyes closed or open, may the lyrics below stir the Vision within us...