Foggy Vision

By: Justin Beville

A few things took place as I drove home from work the other night. The weather was hot/humid, so I naturally blasted the car ac while blasting the next podcast up (I live on the edge). Listening to podcasts may not be your thing, but you likely blast the ac if it is available.

I am thankful for my glasses because of what they do. I would struggle mightily to see without my glasses. A short fifteen minute ride home from work is more than enough time to cool off my glasses frame and lenses. Upon exiting the vehicle, my glasses are blindsided by a temperature change that causes my glasses to fog up. You likely have experienced this if you wear glasses. It likely has caused your glasses to fog up while wearing a mask during the Covid-19 season too. The end result is not being able to see.

This debilitating moment has the same effect that kryptonite has on Superman. I wish I could say that you would get your superpowers back, but eventually your glasses clear up allowing you to see once again.

Covid-19 has blindsided churches, schools, businesses, sports, and much more. Restaurants have had to rethink how they provide food service. Churches have had to think through online worship and strategies to regather safely. Sports temporarily stopped and are slowly resuming with added safety measures. Much of what we knew in 2019 may not function the same for a while. When vision is foggy and the end appears to not be in sight, how should we go forward?

Foggy vision does not have to function as your game over. Here are five ways that businesses, churches, or any other organization can continue to implement vision and strategy, hopefully resulting in making forward strides:

1. Refuse to Sit Back and Do Nothing

Sitting back and doing nothing should be reserved for fishing and watching paint dry. Okay, honestly both of those require work. However, sitting back without a moving forward plan is not healthy. Whether we are in ministry or a local business, we have to have a plan and understand that the plan could quickly change. A plan that has to be tweaked is better than running aimlessly through the woods.

2. Plan Strategically for the Now

Planning five years out may not be the best move right now. A good leader focuses on the future, but it may not be wise to plan too far ahead. I honestly plan ahead. My teaching schedule is mostly outlined for the next school year. I also am cognitive of the ever changing landscape of our current world. Therefore, I have a contingency plan that allows changes to the now as needed.

3. Walk, Don’t Run

Walking enables you to see more of the changing landscape. A runner may get somewhere faster, but they also might quickly run themself into danger. A walker is able to see the landscape and adjust at a much different pace than a runner. Runners have a higher risk of getting injured with quick unplanned movements. Unless you are competing for Olympic gold, walk, but do not drag your feet. A steady walk continues to make strides forward.

4. Don’t Be Afraid of Asking for Help

This is a kicker for most people. Some people just don’t want to ask for help. Asking for help may be the difference between lenses beginning to defrost or still remaining foggy. A stride forward may require some humility and willingness to step back and say, “I need help”.

5. If you Fall off the Bike, Get Back up and Try Again

You are likely going to try something new that falls flat. It may even be a complete embarrassment. Everyone is trying something new or tweaking something to account for this season of life. Hiccups are going to happen and things will ultimately not work and that is okay. Kids fall off bikes often, but the goal is to get back on and try again. You may need to shake off the nerves and regroup, but do not resort to the stationary bike that takes you nowhere.

Your vision may be foggy heading into the fall of 2020. Likely, the vision has changed a thousand times over the summer alone. Keep pressing and continue to strive to do everything with excellence. Do not be afraid of trying something new and be willing to be flexible. Whether you are in a church or a business, the goal is to press forward with your mission while adjusting the vision as needed.

What would you add to the list? How has your vision changed over the last several months? What would you do differently?

Are You a Wave or a Mustard Seed?

By: Justin Beville

Do you like to garden? I surely do not, but I understand the concept. I also understand that things grow anywhere and everywhere! My driveway is under attack and the war has just begun! Did I mention that this was just grass and weeds?

Faith in the Christian life is essential. The most used occurrence of faith in the Greek is the word pistis. This type of faith is equivalent to trust, faith, or confidence. Doubt on the other hand is the contrasting figure to faith. Doubt usually comes in stages. I think of Lex Luther in Smallville. Lex consistently is having doubts about Clark Kent (Superman). His suspicions grow and his emotions are thrown back and forth as various circumstances grow his doubt.

The question you must answer is this: Am I tossed in many directions like the waves of the oceans or is my faith small and mighty, like a mustard seed?

The Waves

Going to the beach can be fun. Just remove the sharp seashells, the sand, and the difficult cleanup and it would be golden. Okay, I’m a fan, but not as big of a fan as some of you. I do enjoy waking up early to get a picture of the sunrise glistening off of the waves.

The ocean is a mighty force capable of great things. It amazes me that such a large body of water has the capacity to make waves. We have an amazing Creator. These waves are amazing to look at from the shore. Once out in the water, the waves toss you around, beat you up, and cause you to drift in various directions without much control. Submerge a surfer and see how much control he has.

The waves are strong. Doubt is strong as it grows. Doubt in the Bible is compared to waves being tossed and thrown around. You think you are in control, but really you have no chance until you get on shore. However, doubt is more like being in a rip current. You have absolutely no control of the situation. A few verses later, the book of James refers to this individual as unstable (James 1:8).

I do not want my life to be unstable and neither should you. It may feel unstable right now. This may be because your in the waves being tossed around. We do not need doubt, we need faith.

The Mustard Seed

The Bible refers to believers having faith as small as a mustard seed. A mustard seed is an interesting choice. Mustard seeds are small, but mighty. They do not look like much at first, but can quickly turn into something mighty. Your faith in Jesus Christ might not look like much at first, but if it is even a glimpse of true faith, it will grow into something mighty.

Faith is an interesting animal. It is hard to have faith in something you cannot see. You do not have to be far away from a mustard seed to be unable to see it. Faith in Jesus will move mountains in and through you. In fact, faith is the only way. Salvation is granted by grace through faith. We must have faith in the grace sustaining gift of eternal life.

Are you going to stand at the edge of the Red Sea with doubt, while the Egyptians are in full pursuit? Will your faith have you pursue God more, ultimately crossing the Red Sea free of harm? Faith in Christ does not always free you from harm, but faith in Christ is capable of far more than we can think or imagine (Ephesians 3:20-21).