Mundane, Then Magnificent

An eighty-year-old couple was concerned because they frequently forgot things. The doctor assured them that there was nothing seriously wrong except old age. He suggested they carry a notebook and write things down so they wouldn't forget.

Several days later, the old man went to the kitchen. His wife said, "Dear, get me a bowl of ice cream while you're up." "Okay." Then she said, "...and put some chocolate syrup and a few cherries on it, too." Finally, she added, "You had better write all this down." "I won't forget,” said the man.

Twenty minutes later, he came back into the room and handed her a plate of scrambled eggs and bacon. She glared at him. "I told you to write it down! I knew you would forget!" "What did I forget?" He asked. She replied, "My toast."

To those of you who are older and dissatisfied with your age, and would like to return to your youth, consider algebra. Enough said.

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Today, let’s explore the topic of vision. Vision is a powerful image of a better future that encourages individuals or groups to take action. The prophet Habakkuk in the Bible understood the process of vision because God revealed it to him during a difficult time in his life and Israel’s history. Let’s gain wisdom from what Habakkuk learned, and we can learn too.

And then God answered: "Write this. Write what you see. Write it in big block letters so others can read it on the go. This vision message serves as a witness, pointing to what is to come. It longs for what's ahead; it can hardly wait! And it doesn't lie. If it seems to be taking a long time to arrive, wait. It's on its way. It will come at the right time." Habakkuk 2:2-3

That’s practical and easy to apply if you're willing to take the second step in the process. First, see the vision. Then write down the vision for yourself or others, and start implementing the idea to turn it from a revelation into reality. To summarize: see the vision, write it down, make it clear, share the vision, wait for the right time to start, and then implement or begin. 

Most are good at the 'tell-a-vision' part, but not very good at the 'do-a-vision' part. Why? We rarely write the vision down. The idea remains in the realm of thought, never becoming real and tangible. It's like scrambled eggs and bacon, but without toast, when it was supposed to be ice cream with chocolate and cherries. It isn't clear. Does this sound familiar? 

Where does the successful completion of a creative project begin? It starts with the step to 'write a vision and make it clear.' Writing down the vision transforms an idea into something people can read, see on paper, and begin to understand. Writing a vision is essential for communicating it to yourself and others. 

Consider how many good ideas get lost in ‘idea-land.' You can turn a 'dream' into reality just by keeping a notepad next to your bed each night. But if you're like me, you get frustrated trying to remember the fantastic idea you had in the middle of the night. I've lost more ideas than a centipede has legs because I intended to put that notepad next to my bed but didn’t. Greg Meyer says, “If I had a dollar for every million-dollar idea I’ve had, I’d be rich.” Sound familiar?

Writing the idea down helps you consider the cost, and guides you in turning your vision into reality. Jesus says in Luke 14:28-30, "Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn't first sit down and figure the cost so you'll know if you can complete it? If you only lay the foundation and then run out of money, you'll look foolish. Everyone passing by will poke fun at you, saying, "He started something he couldn't finish."

Author Peter Lowe encourages us not to 'spend time living...but to invest time living.' Directional thinkers invest time in their goals and visions, planning their time around their dreams and aspirations. Most directional people are led, not driven, and they are wise. Why are they wise? They write down their visions. Then the idea became a product. There is no such thing as million-dollar ideas - only million-dollar executions. Implementation becomes possible when communication starts. Where does communication start? When you write it down and make it clear and easy to understand, others may run with it.

Once, I was in London, England, speaking at a large conference with prominent speakers. I sat next to Cindy Jacobs, a prophetic person who hears from God. During another speaker's presentation, she kept whispering to me from the side of her mouth, “Write the book. Write the book. Write the book." That was a confirmation of what I already knew - God wanted me to write a book called Church@Community. Today, that book is a reality, along with nine other books I have written. Why? I wrote the book.

Some authorities on the subject claim that everyone in the world comes up with a one-million-dollar idea every day. Do you know what happens to most of these ideas? They never wrote their ideas down. Why? Because people have uphill aspirations but downhill habits.  

Do you want to go up? Then, please get in the habit of writing down those ideas. And that will get you more than toast. That’s called moving from mundane to magnificent. Desire it and acquire it because upgrading from mundane to magnificent requires it.