EndVisioning

Today we learned about the concept of EndVisioning.  It is pretty simple, really.  All it is is envisioning what the end would look like should we achieve everything we are praying and trying to accomplish.  But then we do something more...

The speaker compared it to climbing a mountain.  We can imagine what it is like to stand on the very peak before we ever get there.  Then, when we do get there, we are so excited by the accomplishment, the beauty, the view, and the air that we forget the long struggle it was to climb to the top.  But before we took the last step to stand on the summit, we were there--one step away.

If we imagine the end of our mission--everything that we have set out to achieve and pray to see happen has been fulfilled.  Our people group has been reached.  There are churches in every village.  A high percentage of the total population have heard the gospel, accepted or is in the process of being discipled by other people in their own group who have been trained.  The Bible has been translated and given to them in forms they can use.  Etc., etc., etc.

Now imagine what the last step was before we got to that final end vision.  What was that like?  What was the last thing that needed to happen before the vision was finally achieved?  Not something you do necessarily, but something that needs to be done.  What is that?

Now, how about the last thing that needs to happen before what we just described happens?  What is that?

And the thing before that?

Do you see where this is heading?  If we envision the end, or "endvision," then we can start stepping backward considering what needs to happen in a reverse order.  If we are disciplined about it, we can describe all the steps that bring it back to the situation as it actually exists in the present.  This little exercise helps us to make better plans for doing what it takes to accomplish our missions that lead to an ultimate vision of what we want to see happen. 

Just thinking about our mission in this fashion has both excited me and helped me think clearly about the path we need to be taking now.  An important concept is that we don't ask ourselves, "What can I do?" but, "What needs to be done?"  Then we consider what role we can play in what needs to be done, and who needs to help with the things we can't do.