EDITOR’S NOTE — The Alabama Baptist staff is happy to introduce a new women’s column to the state Baptist paper. This new column will focus on resources women can use in their lives of faith, whether lived out at home, in the workplace or in the church. The columnist is Jean Roberson, MSW, LCSW — a ministry consultant for national Woman’s Missionary Union. She serves as team leader for the adult team and as director of Christian Women’s Job Corps/Christian Men’s Job Corps and International Initiatives. The column will run the first issue of each month beginning with the June 3 issue. Until then, we will run the column each week as a way of introduction to this new segment of the paper.
By Jean Roberson
The kingdom of God is like a man with two sons, a woman who lost a coin, yeast and many other things, as Jesus taught us.
When Jesus drew these comparisons, He was not only revealing to us characteristics of God and God’s Kingdom but also casting a vision for us. He was helping us envision a future and giving us something toward which to strive.
That is the beauty of casting a vision. When we can draw a picture of the future in a person’s mind, he or she can better understand and work toward it.
Think of how many sermons on the prodigal son or the lost coin you have heard. How often have those stories spoken to someone you know? How many times in your own life have you applied those parables to help you know what to do or how to respond?
Anytime a group of people is working toward something, there must be a vision. For those of us who struggle with debt, we have to maintain a vision of being debt-free as we work to reduce our loans and outstanding financial obligations.
For those of us planting a church, we have to keep in front of us that picture of what God intends the church to be. For those of us struggling with infertility, we have to hold on to a vision of parenthood.
The problem with maintaining that vision, however, is that it frequently wanes. The struggles and obstacles we encounter on our way distract us, lead us off the path toward the vision and discourage us. However, it is our responsibility to continue to cast the vision. Just as Jesus cast the vision repeatedly and used various images, so we have to do when we are casting a vision at work or home.
What visions are you working toward? In our faith, the vision has been cast already. What about at work? What is the vision? How has it been cast for you? How are you helping to continually cast that vision? In your personal life, what is the vision? How are you casting that vision for yourself and others?
Without a vision, we become scattered and unfocused. We never will achieve that vision unless we hold that picture in our minds. Then we must cast it for others in order to bring them along and empower them to achieve it.
A Takeaway Value …
Casting and maintaining a vision for myself and others is critical to achieving it.
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