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Vision


        Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, but happy is he who keeps the law. (Proverbs 29:18)

            I have to return to the third passage in yesterday’s list. It might not be quite as much a favorite now as it was, but it’s still high on the list. If you’re not told that something is wrong, you can’t turn away from it. If you’re not told that something is right, you can’t turn toward it. If you don’t have at least some ideas about how to get somewhere (a map, a GPS, directions, landmarks…something….) you’re not likely to get there. If you don’t know what something looks like, you can’t make something that looks like it.
          Years ago as I considered the idea of a personal mission statement, one thing I learned was that one’s mission can be found by asking what it is you can’t not do. When I read Dallas Willard’s works, one of the keys he returned to was the idea of becoming the kind of person who did things naturally – even unconsciously. At other times, as I talked to people about doing God’s will, I advised them to do what they said, “Somebody needs to…” and to do the obvious. I have a friend who has come to understand the lesson of the “Good Samaritan” as meaning that one’s neighbor is the person one trips over as one goes through a day.
           Return to your top five, or top three, or top one area(s) of focus for 2020. What will these look like in your life? Keeping with the idea of starting small, what one little thing can you do on a daily basis for each of them? What habits can you build (or rebuild) to make them a part of your life?
           My top five for 2020 are love, faithfulness, the Word of God, prayer, and self-control. What do these look like in my life? One idea that comes to mind is that one key is the encouragement of things that come “naturally.” I’ve tended to think that my love language is “Words of Affirmation” but while words are my thing, I tend to be critical. However, it’s almost second nature to pick up trash, put people’s newspapers at their doorsteps, to see how many boxes of food I can get on the shelves at a food pantry, or to plant a garden in hopes of being able to supply myself and my neighbors with herbs. Those are all acts of service, to which I say, “Hmmmmmm.”
           Prayer is an easy one. I used to pray for each household in the park as I passed it, and for folks back home between. That got lost. I want it back. The Word of God is also easy. I want to memorize and meditate on my favorite verses, even if I don’t realize they’re favorites yet. Have you noticed yet? Much of what I’m talking about does double duty. Praying for folks is loving them, and prayer. Memorizing and meditating not only are the Word of God but faithfulness and self-control.
          So here’s my parting thought for the day. There is nothing you can do toward the betterment of your character (toward being a better person) that will not bring about progress in other areas as well.  

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