You Are My Vision

Vision is a word that is thrown around quite a bit, especially in the corporate setting.  Creating a “vision” for an organization is seen as key to creating a foundation for its success.  Maintaining that same vision over time is critical, but can sometimes be lost or become dim.  But here, we’re going to talk about a different type of vision.  On what do we focus?

“You are my vision
O King of my heart
Nothing else satisfies
Only you Lord”

Setting foot in Ireland today, how could I not throw out a song from an Irish band?  Rend Collective, whose song “Build Your Kingdom Here” I wrote about back on St. Patrick’s Day, hails from Belfast.  This great tune is a fun take on “Be Thou My Vision.”  The album “Campfire”, from which this comes, is appropriately named. This version sounds like it was sung around a campfire with friends together, praising God.  The little fiddle at the end, with a quick measure of a jig, certainly hearkens to our daughters’ love and history of Irish dancing.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3Z7iQrzchQ&feature=kp)

In Philippians, Paul offers to us his encouragement for what we should be focused on.  This is one of my all-time favorite verses.  By the way, he wrote this during one of the many times he was sitting in prison.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)

What should our vision be focused on?  What is the truest, simplest and most magnificent example of our best focus?  Our Heavenly Father.

“You are my best thought
By day or by night
Waking or sleeping
Your presence my light”

As we progress through life, the things we focus on can certainly change, but our vision should remain the same.  When we take our eyes off of God, off of Christ, we can lose that which keeps us on firm footing.

“ ‘Come,’ He said.  Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ “ (Matthew 14: 29-30)

The world, at times, demands that we take our eyes off God, looking to those things that distract, cause fear, bring doubt.  We lose our vision.  But He does not lose us.

“Heart of my own heart
Whatever befall
Still be my vision
Oh ruler of all”

So, what is your vision?  On what are you focused?  Do the things the world throws at you every day draw your eyes away from the Truth?  For me?  Every day.  But on my best days, when my eyes shine brightly with love, joy and light, my Vision is there.  “You and You only, the first in my heart.  High King of Heaven, my treasure You are.”