Vision & The Grand Canyon

My wife and I recently visited Arizona for our "babymoon."  I think its a new word.  It's like a honeymoon which is a trip with your spouse right before your marriage begins only this is a trip right before parenting begins.  We stayed in Sedona, AZ but took a day trip to the Grand Canyon. 

When we told people we were going to Arizona and mentioned the Grand Canyon, we got one of two responses from dozens of people that had previously visited.  The 2 responses were:


1. The Grand Canyon is breathtaking!  It is a spiritual experience that gave me goosebumps and brought tears to my eyes!  You are absolutely going to love it!  It is an amazing experience!

2.  It's cool but pretty much just a big hole in the ground.

My experience is definitely like the first response.  Saying the Grand Canyon is just a big hole in the ground is like saying the ocean is just a bunch of water.  It is unbelievable!   It stretches as far as the eye can see.  I do not even have words the describe its unique beauty.  It is something that you just have to experience to understand.

But then again, people have experienced it and thought it was just a big hole in the ground.

I think this is a lesson for anyone with a vision.  Here are 3 examples:

My wife has a vision for making young women feel confident that their beauty is found in the Lord.  She believes in this so much that she created beautiful bracelets that simply say "You're Beautiful" Psalms 45:11. (The KING is enthralled by your Beauty.)  When asked, Katy speaks to groups of young women and over 2,000 of them have a beautiful bracelet to serve as a reminder that their beauty is not defined by what they see on TV, billboards, or magazines but what they see in the mirror, God's Masterpiece. 

However, when others see these beautiful bracelets, they see a light blue accessory made of silicone to decorate their wrist.

Steve Jobs and others from Apple had a vision for a device that would serve as a mp3 player, internet device, phone, and so much more.  The iPhone now also serves as a camera, GPS, gaming device, calendar, and so much more. (In my opinion the greatest invention of our time.)

Yet when some see this revolutionary device, they simply see an overpriced phone that is complicated to work.


Craig Groeschel and his core team started Lifechurch.tv over 15 years ago with a desire to lead people to become fully devoted followers of Christ.  What started in a garage now impacts over 30,000 people in over 15 video campuses around the U.S.,  inspires countless people via Church Online, and touches literally millions of lives with youversion.com, the free Bible app for smartphones and internet users.

Yet when some see this influential church that constantly looks for new ways to share the gospel, they see a weird TV church that breaks traditions.

The same can be said for all schools, churches, families, organizations, artists, and anything specifically created by someone with a vision.  Some people see it.  Some people don't. 

There are at least 3 takeaways here:

1.  Stand Firm.  People may not always see what you see.  And that is okay and completely normal.  Don't let that take away from the seriousness of your vision.  Just imagine if Steve Jobs would have listened to the people that said a device like the iPhone could not be done, if Craig Groeschel would have listened to the critics of a multi-site church, or if Katy would have listened to the people that told her that the world doesn't need another silicone bracelet. 

2.  Encourage vision.  There will be plenty of times when you simply don't see what other people see.  Again, perfectly normal.  Make sure you are not someone who tells them all the reasons why their vision can't and won't work.  Unless it goes against your moral beliefs, find a way that you can encourage them in pursuit of their vision.

3.  Form your own opinion.  I could have listened to the people who said it was just a big hole in the ground and not driven an extra 5 hours to see the Grand Canyon.  Boy am I glad I chose to see for myself. 


What is your vision?  Do others see what you see?