A Panoramic Vision

Read Zechariah 2:1-5

I used to like to sit down and study maps. Not that for a test or anything like that; I just liked looking at maps. Road maps in particular. The reason I was so enamored by them was that that opened up the possibilities of going to and seeing new places and people. Now, I don't look at an atlas all that much; I found something better - Google maps with Street View! What a great resource tool! Now, not only can I find new places to go, but I can have a good idea what it looks like because with Street View, I can see exactly what it looks like from a perspective of being on the street at that location, all on my laptop. This also cuts down on the hunting a guessing where particular places are when I go somewhere new.

As cool as Street View is, it still has limits. It only shows what the place looked like the day that the roaming camera was there to capture it. It only gives a two-dimensional perspective, lacking depth. Also, it allows me to see only a portion of all that my eyes can take in if I was actually there. So, the vision is limited.

Vision is something I have been thinking a great deal about lately. I am prayerfully seeking God's vision for the church I serve, Sunrise UMC. I know God has a vision for this church - a big vision at that. But I need to open my eyes to it or, maybe, I just need to be prepared to expand the spectrum of that vision.

The prophet Zechariah could relate to that. In today's scripture reading, Zechariah saw a man who apparently was measuring Jerusalem, to ascertain exactly what it could hold, what it was capable of doing. Then an angel of the Lord came running out of the city, proclaiming that the surveyor was thinking way too small - because God would be there and nothing would be able to contain God's glory or those who seek to be in God's presence.

I wonder if maybe we in ministry, clergy and lay alike, try to size up the Church. We look at it and say, this is what we are capable of because of space, resources, and money (let's not forget money). My prayer for Sunrise and for wherever you worship God, is that we will find God's messenger running to exclaim, "You're thinking way too small - God is here!"

Godspeed,
Tim