Recently I have been thinking a lot about what to do after this year of internship is over. As I think, a number of possibilities come to my mind. I could stay here at Eastern and do a second year of internship, I could pursue a campus ministry job on another campus somewhere, possibly even in another state, I could search for job in family services, the field of study in which I earned my bachelor’s degree, I could start an all girl band and travel the world, I could join the circus, or I could play the lottery and hope to win big (ok, a few of those may not be real options ). Anyhow, sometimes these questions and possibilities can really weigh me down. So heavy!

In the first few chapters of his book Hearing God, Dallas Willard explains an interesting concept about knowing and doing God’s will. He explains that God may not be so interested in giving us specific answers and instructions about all of the who’s, what’s, when’s, where’s, and why’s of life. Instead God is most likely more interested in developing in us, through the work of His Holy Spirit, the kind of character that makes good and wise decisions in everyday life; just like the father of a maturing child does not always tell him exactly what he should do, but instead teaches him how to make good decisions on his own. As I think about making big life decisions, I think this concept still holds true. If it seems like God is staying silent on the particulars of where I should go and what I should do, maybe it’s because He is leaving it for me to choose. As long as I know that it is my duty as a disciple to love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, love my neighbor as myself, and make disciples as I am going out into the world, then maybe He is leaving it up to me to decide where and how to do that.

So, all this thinking about what’s next makes me think about vision. What does it mean to have vision? Where do my gifts, talents, and passions meet with the world’s needs? How do I discern my vision from God’s vision? Sitting on my bookshelf is an excellent book I read a few years ago called Visioneering by Andy Stanely. Through a study of the life of Nehemiah, Stanley writes about “developing and maintaining” a God vision versus a good vision. It is a great read, and I highly recommend it.

So, as I think about my own life, future, and vision, I propose a question to you… “What is YOUR VISION?”