Shooting Stars and a Vision from God

Have you ever seen a shooting star? This summer I saw about 20 of them in one night. I’ve also been thinking quite a bit recently about seeking a vision from God of a preferred future for our church.  I’ve discovered that there are some similarities between looking for shooting stars and seeking a vision for the church. Here is what I came up with:

1. You have to believe it’s possible and seek it.

I had seen in the news that the annual Perseid meteor shower would happen on August 13. Being an astronomy fan, I wanted to see it and decided to try. Leaders in the church have to believe that it’s possible to receive a vision from God of a preferred future and decide to seek it.

2. Minimize the distractions.

One of the important factors in star gazing is to be away from other lights on the ground that can wash out the lights in the sky.  Fortunately, Linda and I were visiting my mother-in-law at her house on the outskirts of Davenport. Jesus gave us the example of occasionally getting away from it all and going out to deserted places to pray and connect with God.

3. Look toward the heavens.

To see the shooting stars I laid down on a tarp in the back yard and gazed up at the sky. In order to look toward God, I read the Bible to see God’s activity in the past and God’s ongoing character revealed in Jesus.

4. Wait for the connection.

You can’t control when a shooting star will appear. You just have to wait for it. We also can’t manipulate God’s revelation. We can only wait to discern it. Waiting requires giving up control in order to seek God’s will over our own.

As I lay there that night eventually there were several times when I saw a clear point of light shoot across the sky. About 4 or 5 of those times the streaking light left a bright line in the sky that sparkled for a moment and then quickly faded. It was cool to see.

United Methodist congregations in the Northwest District of Iowa are invited to designate September 27 as a “Vision Day” when we consider seeking God’s vision of a preferred future for our lives, our churches and our communities. When seeking God’s vision of a preferred future is done as a community, it lessens the tendency for us to mistake our personal desires for God’s intention. The responsibility of leaders is then to articulate that vision which gives everyone in the church a sense of direction and something to work toward. That is how I see that we will be on the path to God’s preferred future.

While seeing shooting stars was cool, working toward a vision of God’s preferred future for our lives gives us meaning, purpose and hope. Let’s seek it together.