Saturday, January 7, 2012

Do You Have A Vision You Will Never See?



A new year is underway. As "Dr. Phil" would say, "How's it working for you?" Did you draft any resolutions or goals? Did you write out your Year In Review letter for 2012? Or did you just get up and keep moving like you did before taking a break for the holidays? If so, there's always time to get a plan and get moving. Remember: "If you aim at nothing, you'll hit it every time."


When you think about the "you" that you want to become in 2012, let me encourage you to think about the "you" that you want to be in 2112. Wait...that's 100 years from now. It's highly probable that we will not be alive in 2112. So why would we concern ourselves with a life that's non-existent?


It's called our Legacy. It's how we want to be remembered and how we leverage our lives now for the success for others later. It's allowing those who come behind us to stand on our shoulders. The choices we are making today can set the tone for the success of our family, our co-workers and our peers tomorrow. We need a vision that we will never see.






What do we want others to say about us when we are dead? Go ahead...make a list. In fact, I would encourage you to write out your obituary. Try it. It's a neat exercise. It makes you think about the life you want to live and the legacy you want to leave. Really...give this a try.


Whatever makes the list, will not happen on its own. We have to work for and strive to see those attributes unfold in our lives. We need discipline and courage to make choices that will feed those attributes and help them grow into defining virtues.


If you want to be known as an encourager, then start encouraging.
If you want to be known as a generous person, then start giving stuff away.
If you want to  be known as a leader, then find something to lead.
If you want to be known as a creative person, then start creating stuff (even if it's on paper)
If you want to be known as a Godly person, then make sure you know Him and surrender your life to Him.


Conversely...


If you want to be known as a lazy person, then keep putting stuff off.
If you want to be known as a unreliable person, then keep saying you'll do stuff and don't  follow-through.
If you want to be known as a dishonest person, then keep saying one thing and doing the opposite.
If you want to be known as a poor leader, keep thinking of yourself and all you can do by yourself.


It's all about looking far ahead into the future, knowing that what you're doing now can have an impact on people then. But it will not happen by chance. We must make choices now to do the hard things so that the results will pave the way for those who can only make things better.


Take a look at Hebrews 11:13 in the Message:  "Each one of these people of faith died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing. How did they do it? They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world."


Photo Source: Telescope_by_vladstudio.jpg








2 comments:

  1. In my adult Sunday school class we just started studying attitude. I chose the topic because I did not like the legacy I was setting for my kids in the area of attitude. So, this is a step toward changing this. Turns out that many people in the class feel the same way about their attitudes.

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  2. Kari,

    Attitude will determine your altitude. It's the key determinant in how we respond to all that life throws at us. I suggest finding someone you trust and give them permission to conduct an "Attitude Check" on you whenever they want. The accountability will make a difference.

    Check out this poem by Chuck Swindoll: http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=attitude+poem&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

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