In 1774 John Adams boldly declared, "Someday I see a union of 13 states, a new nation, independent from Parliament and the King of England." He was the first to express that idea publicly and just a few short years later and against all odds, the United States was born. In 1789, an Englishman named William Wilberforce stood before the British Parliament and yearned for the day when slaves would no longer be bought and sold like farm animals. 20 years later, the slave trade was officially abolished in the UK. In late 1800's, Orville and Wilbur Wright pictured a day when people would fly through the air. 10 years late, on December 7, 1903, the Kittyhawk lifted off from the sandy beach in North Carolina. And in the late 1940's, Billy Graham and a few college buddies gathered and dreamed of filling stadiums around the world presenting the gospel to people who were on their way to a Christless eternity. Through their efforts more than 210 million people have heard the gospel in person and over a billion have heard it via TV and radio. What was the common denominator in all these people? Vision!. As leaders, all too often we suffer from the myopia of Alice in Alice in Wonderland. In her conversation with the Cheshire Cat Alice asks, "Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?" "That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the cat. "I don't much care where," said Alice. "Then it doesn't matter which way you go," said the cat. "So long as I get somewhere," Alice added as an afterthought. "Oh, you're sure to do that," said the cat, "if only you walk long enough." Leadership is not about "getting somewhere" it's about getting to the desired destination and vision provides the needed roadmap. During times of change and uncertainty people are concerned about their future and desire some assurance about what is ahead. Vision provides hope and direction for those around you. As a leader you will be called on to provide that necessary visionary leadership so remember three vision principles: 1. Get To High Ground Only as you move up to higher ground will you be able to gain perspective on your situation. From that vantagepoint you'll begin to catch a glimpse of future possibilities and previously unforeseen opportunities. You will never move ahead by constantly looking in a rear view mirror. Remember your history, respect your heritage, and learn from your past. Your past is a rudder to guide you, not an anchor to drag you. Resist the temptation to stereotype your leadership and God's activity in it by dwelling on the past. The principles that motivate God's work in our lives never change - but the actions of God change as He sees fit. Don't allow your memories to be greater than your dreams 2. See Where God Wants You To Go We can recall our mountaintop experiences of the past, but fail to discover God's work in the present. God has blessed, but are we to be satisfied with past blessings? By having a vision for the future we are empowered and cannot help but radiate hope and purpose. In Proverbs 19.18, Solomon writes, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." Another translation renders it as "Where there is no vision, the people cast off all restraint." Without a God-honoring vision, we will walk around aimlessly. 3. Just Do It! Vision is not just reserved for Fantasyland - must begin to implement and live by it. What would our world be like if people like John Adams had not envisioned a new country? If the Wright brothers had said, "Man isn't meant to fly!" or Billy Graham had said, "No thanks God, I'm not willing to grab hold of that vision." Give your vision substance and obey what God has called you to do. In the movie City Slickers you may remember "Curly" the rough tough cowboy. In his dialogue with Billy Crystal he distills all of life down to one thing. He says: "You city folks come up here, same age with the same problems. You spend 50 weeks a year getting knots in your rope and come up here thinking 2 weeks will untie it. None of you get it. Do you know what the secret of life is? The secret of life is just one thing. You stick to that and everything else don't mean nothing." Billy Crystal then asks Curly what that one thing is and his response is: "That's what you've got to figure out." What's the one thing that God would have you do? Stay the Course, Greg Morris mail@leadershipdynamics.org www.leadershipdynamics.org