So last week we began a small series of reflections called “Blueprints for a Bigger Vision.” A Vision is a picture of the future which produces passion. God has a blueprint, a vision for you and me! His vision for us is beyond what we can imagine, understand, undertake - at least without His guidance.
Last Week, it being Pentecost, we looked at “Where to Start?”, and determined that we need to be people who are looking for ways to understand the language of God. God is speaking to us - like He spoke to the Apostles and Disciples in the Upper Room, and helping us to expand our language and understanding of what His Vision for Us is. Then today, Trinity Sunday, and next week Corpus Christi Sunday, we will reflect on “The Characteristics of a Godly Vision” and “Overcoming Obstacles”.
The Movie - the "Wizard of Oz" is a true classic. Several remakes and updates recently to its original - but its the original that is just so impressive - black & white or colour - doesn’t matter. One of my favorite scenes is when Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion arrived to see the Wizard.
As they get into the huge castle, a large reflection of a man appears and there is the thunderous directive “who dares to come and see the "Wizard of Oz" . While the dialogue is going on where Dorothy asks to go home - Dorothy's tiny terrier Toto has pulled back the curtain that kept the true identity of "The Wizard" a secret.
Instead of being "Oz, the Great and Powerful," the "wizard" was revealed by the pup to be an ordinary man, a con artist, practicing the art of smoke and mirrors to impress the people with his faked naked powers. "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!" We are told !
There are times, if we are honest, that our relationship with God looks a lot like that. He is great and powerful, we see ourselves on a road toward Him and along the way we make requests and when they don’t go our way - well we want to in our minds to find that curtain to pull back, so that we can say - He isn’t real - and that will make it all better - so we think. Reality, however is, that His Vision - which is true, and right, and good - is so much more powerful and His Will for us is so much more life giving - than any journey toward Oz. So what are the Characteristics of a Godly Vision? I’d like to propose three quick ones today found in our Gospel (John 16.12-15):
First, Jesus says “I still have many things to say to you but you can not bear them now.” Trust - we have to be willing to trust the Lord - surrender to Him - and honestly say, believe, act and live out the sense that “God knows best.” A neighbour of mine as a child one day demonstrated for me the opposite lesson.
She proclaimed to us one day that her husband was undertaking the task of cutting down a tree in their back yard. Shortly after that we began to notice various companies coming to their family home during the day time when he husband was at work. They would come and then they would leave. Finally we asked what that was all about. “They are tree cutting companies, I am getting a quote” She replied. "Oh, I thought your husband was cutting down the tree. “ I said. Her reply; "O yes, he said he would, but it is always good to have a back up plan when it comes to him.”
Is our relationship with God like that ? Do we ask Him, seek His Vision, say ok you can do it and then starting devising the backup plan? Godly Vision - His Bigger Vision for Us needs Trust!
Secondly Jesus says “ when the Spirit of truth, he will guide you into all the truth.” Willingness to be Lead. During my first year in the seminary, as an ice breaker, we where asked to come up with what was our favorite children’s game. The list went on and on when one of the fellows mentioned “Follow the Leader”. Another of the new seminarians quickly replied “ I hate that game, that is not what life is about”. The stunned silence was only broken by our Professor saying “ guess you are not in the right place”. A Godly Vision is one lead by God - not us - we must be willing in our life to undertake “Follow the Leader”, but not as a game but a life mantra.
Finally Jesus says “He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” A Vision anointed by God is one that glorifies Him - It Gives Glory to God - because it takes a part of Himself and shares it with us as we seek to become who He wishes for us to be!
On September 7, 1857 a year before the founding of the Village of Hespeler, the founding families dedicated this parish “ to the Glory of God” it was carved into the cornerstone of the original Church. God Blesses what is dedicated to Him. The blessings that this parish has seen in the last number of years, the growth, the positive spirit, the deep sense of prayerfulness and community - are not the doings of any group, person or plan - but the fact that in it all - we have dedicated it to God - from the start - it is His Vision !
On this our Feast Day Weekend may we ask the intercession of Mary, Elizabeth and the angel Gabriel - models of the Visitation - to guide us - so our “Yes” is as faithful as was their “Yes” to wish to be a part of His Vision: Trusting, Being Lead and Glorifying Him as we continue to be a parish community that is connected to our Past, committed to our future and compassionately focused on being a family of faith with something for everyone !