What put this quote into my mind was my reflecting on the process for establishing out parish vision. When picturing a vision we need to have a glimmer of eternity in our mind's eye. Paul reminded the Corinthians: So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labour. For we are God's fellow-workers; you are God's field, God's building. b
The fact I need to remind myself of in leadership is that God has called me here for a specific purpose at a specific time. I build upon those who have gone before and others will complete what I begin. In all of this God is the one who 'makes things grow.' When you plan and plant a garden, especially some of the larger ones that William Kent would have been involved in, you are considering the placement of trees and other large shrubs that will require time to grow and establish themselves. The message of today is instant! Therefore whether it is in establishing healthy churches or gardens we are not accustomed with holding eternity in our mind's eye.
We have many challenges facing the church of today, but we pray and reflect and act. Just as I believe that I am in leadership at this point for a particular task I also believe that the church has a particular task in the society and community God has placed her.
You may have heard the phrase, 'not being able to see the wood for the trees' don't get bogged down in the immediate. Pause and picture the future as God want to grow it and set out on your way there.
a. William Kent (c. 1685 – 12 April 1748), born in Bridlington, Yorkshire, was an eminent Englisharchitect, landscape architect and furniture designer of the early 18th century.
b. 1 Corinthians 3:7-9
