Desert Walking In Flippers

"You start with an idea: something pure, something exciting.
Then come the mistakes, the compromises."

Thus says one of my all time life-gurus, Tony Stark. Stark? You know, Iron Man? I went to see the third instalment of the Marvel movie franchise on Bank Holiday Monday and was quite surprised to be regaled with this morsel of profundity in the opening scene, all the more so seeing that the more I think about it, the more I appreciate the truth of it.

Because this is how it happens isn't it? An idea, a vision captures our imagination and ignites our passion. Whatever it might be, from a world without hunger to crossing the Sahara whilst wearing flippers, once a vision is in the soul its next to impossible to remove. And who would want to? These are the things that make life worth living, that add glorious HD to our otherwise analog lives. Ideas are like that. They seep into the soul and take root there, beginning as tiny grains but quickly growing and flourishing until our very beings are entangled in leafy boughs and blossoming branches. Makes me smile just thinking about it. :)

 And how do we respond? The only way we can: by surrendering. We throw ourselves into making the magnificent revelation we have witnessed into a reality. We don't know how, nor how long it'll take, nor even if it will ultimately work, but we HAVE to try. Not doing so would be like... an apt metaphor...trying not to eat a piece of unguarded Terry's Chocolate Orange on Christmas Day. Just not possible.

But.....then come the mistakes, the compromises.

In our headlong charge to make the vision a reality, things begin to get warped - slowly and seditiously, even without our conscious realisation (which is the problem), but they do. The realising of the vision becomes the ultimate end, and we lose sight of the whole reason we were inspired in the first place. The person who wants to end hunger is so intent on implementing THEIR vision of how to do it that they forget the plight that moved them in the first place. The person intent on desert walking in flippers may ignore the fact that it has already been done (numerous times I understand), so perhaps a different type of aqueous footwear would better provide the challenge they seek. And the pioneer minister might be so obsessed with their ideas for new church models that they forget why such things are necessary in the first place: to further God's kingdom.

We need to constantly be coming back to the original spark that ignited the fire of vision within us. Those who are called to pioneer ministry need to remember that when all is said and done, Jesus is our inspiration and his Spirit compels us. Yes we may have a great vision, but if it ceases to have the values of his kingdom - love, justice, mercy and grace - at its core, then whatever we end up creating will actually be a betrayal of the vision, not a fulfilment.

Tony has spoken. Here endeth the lesson.