The Vision and The Reality

In the spring, I had a vision of new steps in the back of our house. I had removed a deck a few years ago and built some steps down to the new brick patio. The steps were in bad shape and needed replacement. I saw a brochure with beautiful steps made of a composite material. I got a “vision” of what the new steps would look like.

I made the calculations, ordered the material and began construction. It went very slowly and spring turned to summer, cool dry days to hot humid days. I set the project aside. With the cool days of fall, I will try to complete the vision. Visions are exciting their execution, is often trying.

On the mountain top, God gives us the vision. It becomes reality in the valley. Vision are plentiful; reality much less so. Vision depends entirely on God; reality depends on our submission to God. In the valley most turn back. We are not quite prepared for the bumps and bruises that must come if we are going to be turned into the shape of the vision. We have seen what we are not, and what God wants us to be, but are we willing to be battered into the shape of the vision to be used by God? The beatings will always come in the most common, everyday ways and through common, everyday people.

Have a vision? Step up and with God’s help, make it so.

Be blessed.

Nick