Vision Leaks
There is a famous saying in business’ circles: “Vision leaks.” The reality is that vision leaks away in every endeavor, as surely as a bucket with a weeping hole.
Many of us entered our academic careers out of a calling to our discipline, to research and teaching, but also with an attendant sense of vocation. Vocation, of course, comes from the Latin “vocare,” which means “to call.” And biblically, as Christ-followers, we realized that our calling to the academy was also a call to love and serve God within the academy.
Unfortunately, this vision of dual vocations “leaks. ” We constantly have to fill our vision reservoir. Christian faculty fill this vocational vision reservoir in one of two ways.
A Big Vision of World Change
Some faculty are motivated and energized by the big picture. “Come, help change the world” was a call by Dr. Bill Bright at the founding of Cru, the parent movement of Faculty Commons. Some of us then responded to that world-embracing challenge. Even now, we’re constantly connecting our work on the campus to its potential global impact.
As such, visionary conferences appeal to us. We endeavor to learn from other folks with big visions. The biographies of great men and women also seem to find their way to our bookshelves.
The Small Story of a Changed Life, Perspective, or Decision
Other faculty are motivated and recharged by a single story of a changed life, or a changed perspective, or a changed decision.
These men and women love to hear people share about how God is working in their lives. When a colleague or student comes and says, “Because of this conversation, or this class, or this thing you did or said, I’m choosing to follow Jesus in this way,” these faculty find their vision reservoir filled to overflowing.
What motivates you?
What fills your dual sense of “call” to the academy and to loving and serving God in the academy?
Do big visions grab you? How are you fueling those visions?
Or does the simple story of life change get to you? If so, are you asking, “How is God working?” and then listening to the responses of the colleagues and students around you?
It is important to discover what motivates us, lest our Vision reservoir run dry.
FC Editorial Team