Tag Archives: vision

October 22, 2012 · 7:58 AM

Be Persistent

Years ago, someone wrote a book that was turned down by eighteen publishers. Finally, it was published, and within five years, Richard Bach’s Jonathan Livingston Seagull had sold seven million copies in the United States alone. Seven million copies after eighteen rejections!

The point is this: the opinion of others has nothing to do with your success. Their rejection can only hurt your feelings, damage your ego, and set you on a road to despair. If you allow it.

Other people do not determine your future. You do.

Stay excited about your vision! God put it there and He gave you the ability to make it happen. Nobody else can do it like you can.

Be persistent.

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July 2, 2012 · 11:32 AM

The Fireworks

We have a family tradition – you must go to the fireworks on Canada Day. That was yesterday. So we did. It’s a rule. We’ve celebrated Canada’s birthday this way nearly every year for the past 35.

As we sat shivering (yes, it was on the chilly side) under the stars with family and friends watching the fantastic light show, I thought about what our pastor has been preaching about vision for the past while. The similarities between vision and fireworks are astounding. Really.

Vision is the act or power of anticipating that which will or may come to be.

And we certainly did the anticipation part, waiting for the fireworks to begin. Nikolas, just turned 3, could hardly wait and he had no idea what fireworks were. But he knew something amazing was about to happen. Caleb, 8, and Reece, 5, did a good job of hyping up the coming event for their younger cousin. Nik definitely caught their vision.

Vision is stimulating and motivating. I LOVE fireworks. They are happy and loud and beautiful and inspiring.

Vision is change-oriented. Fireworks are always changing, never the same. You never know what’s coming next.

Vision is people-oriented. Fireworks displays are for the thousands of people who gathered to watch. Period.

Vision can be challenging, and it requires commitment and passion. I’m sure there are challenges for the people who do fireworks displays. I’m sure they are committed. And I’m sure they are passionate about what they do.

Vision presents a more promising future. Can I stretch that point into a fireworks analogy? Absolutely. If you are truly paying attention, you see beyond the color and design. You see what could be. You see possibilities.

So thanks, Pastor Morris, for making the vision clear. I’ll bet you had no idea how your sermon could ever relate to fireworks.

And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. Acts 2:17 (NKJV)

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