Rick Bennett, CBF Director for Missional Formation, reflects on his desire to see clearly God’s vision for the world through the lens of Jesus and our calling to make God’s dream a reality.

At 25, during a regular eye exam, I learned that I have an ocular condition known as lattice degeneration.  In the back of the eye, there is tissue which appears like the design of lattice on the base of an outdoor deck.  There is the potential that aging, falling or a sudden jarring of the head could loosen or break the weakened tissue.  If this were to occur the tears or holes in the lattice would then produce dark spots in my vision.  Because there is currently no treatment, my vision would be distorted until the advent of a treatment.  As a result, I have it monitored religiously.  This annual reminder encourages me to value my vision.  My vision is a gift. 

I share another condition which threatens to obscure my vision, the vision formed deep within my fearfully and wonderfully-made heart by the Creator of the Universe.  This vision is of a world of justice, mercy, and humility, the Kingdom Jesus described, God’s dream for the world and for me.  The condition is sin, and it leaves me seeing as “through a glass darkly.”  The condition might be described as pandemic as it seems everyone has it to the point of normalcy (that doesn’t mean it’s natural).  Aware of my condition, I deeply value the clarity of God’s dream when I see it.  Glimpses of God’s dream for the world are a gift that requires my surrender, my imagination, and my collaboration.

I have often wondered what it would be like to be visually impaired.  The courageous stories of the visually impaired encourage me to believe that I would find a way forward.  But God help me should I ever be found without Jesus as my Vision, without Him as my lens for seeing God’s dream for the world, my community and me.  The wisdom of Israel proclaims that “Where there is no vision, the people perish. (Proverbs 28:18 KJV)” Indeed, I might survive physical blindness, but without Jesus, I would be as good as dead. 

“Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart.  Naught be all else to me save that Thou art!”