The church was in need of bifocals. It was bad enough that we were unable to see in the distance ahead of us, but the problem was compounded by the fact that we couldn't even read the pages of our current condition. Not only were we unsure of where we were headed, but we also were unable to ascertain the reasons for our difficulties. How could it be that we came to such a dilemma? We were headed nowhere quickly, and we were lost besides.

We've been there. Yes, Church on the Coast has experienced the pain of feeling lost, and without direction. Nothing creates such hopelessness in the heart of leaders, as not knowing where they are going themselves. At least, that is true for this leader.

And nothing creates this sense of visionlessness quite like over-attention to the frustrations of the moment.

Here are just a few of the "moments" which have caused me to become so preoccupied with present problems, that I lost my sense of direction for leading the church:

* When the largest tither (and a council member) left the church. This was not even under unfriendly terms!
* When the church went through financial difficulties so serious, that we were collecting less than we needed for just the basics like rent, and utilities. (Note: We have never shirked on our bills, and have always caught up if we've fallen behind. This includes tithing on the tithe which comes into the church. If a church does not behave this way in its stewardship, it is certainly behaving as an unworthy witness to the community of the saints, and to unbelievers as well.)
* When a group of 35 people from a church which had been closed, all came to join us on the same Sunday.
* When this same group began to leave the church because we were not of the same vision, and leadership style with which they had been familiar.
* When a long time church member, and even longer time friend left the church over absurd accusations.
* When the daily routines of church business kept me entrenched in nothing more than maintaining what we were currently doing.
* When the frustrations at home (Let's see, which ones? Financial? Relational?) were eating at me, and consuming my days.
* When the regular attendance lapsed to an all time low, and everyone's spirits followed in the same trend.
* When attendance, tithing, volunteer involvement, and church activities remained stable, and unchanged for a long period.

I'm sure you can identify with many of the above circumstances. As you can see, most are bad situations, some are good, and some are just neutral. As I have learned, it is not the nature of the situation which draws my attention away from having clearly focused vision, but it is the nature of my attention itself.

One of the first great lessons I learned concerning the spiritual warfare of ministry, was that the devil was working hard to get me to respond to problems in one of these two ways: 1) Over-react to difficult situations, or 2) under-react to difficult situations. I don't think he particularly cares which way I sway, just as long as I do sway.

If I should over-react to a situation, my attention is already drawn away from the more important issues of ministry, and I am creating a larger problem for myself. If I am under-reacting to a situation, I am setting the stage for the problem to grow unrestricted, and eventually to consume my attention in the future. The end result either way, is that I am turned into a myopic leader. My vision becomes concentrated only on the closest objects of concern, and I lose my sense for the future, and for the direction of the church.

I wear glasses. Well, at least I should wear glasses. I am myopic, not severely, but myopic nonetheless. I don't need them to drive, but I probably should wear them, more often than I do. You see, I hate those things sitting on my nose. They make my face fall asleep. After a while, I get a head ache, and sometimes my right eyelid will twitch. I really hate wearing glasses. If you're an optometrist, and you think you can help, don't bother calling me. I am a problem patient, and I really, really hate wearing glasses. And don't you dare suggest contacts. Sticking small things in my eyes, and wearing them stuck to the surface of my eyeball all day long, sounds even worse.

Perhaps you are a problem patient like me. You might find it convenient to deal with the current dilemmas of life, and you don't need to be bothered with planning for tomorrow. God, the great optometrist of the soul, has some glasses for you. They are specifically matched to meet your needed adjustments, and to correct your myopia. Set that appointment today.