am·phib·i·ous

/amˈfibēəs/

adjective

1. relating to, living in, or suited for both land and water.

When we were getting certified as E-Myth coaches, we learned a new and robust understanding of vision. For many, vision is simply a more generous or aspirational version of their purpose or mission statement. In fact, when we encounter companies that have a mission, purpose, and vision statement created in a traditional format, it is often hard for us to distinguish between the three.

The vision we learned and work to create with all our clients is very different. This vision is a clear and articulated version of the future. What will the culture look and feel like? What will client relationships be like? Where will we be situated in the marketplace? Products…Locations…Systems…What will our business look like in the future when it is purposefully matured?

It is a picture to hope and work toward. It is a commitment to a future reality.

We also learned that in order to realize that future, you have to be firmly and honestly grounded in your present. You need to operate with “double vision” - really clear on where you are, but increasingly focused and committed to the future.

For example, if you have five project managers that you oversee, but hope someday to have one of them manage the five, you need to either have the person on the team you can develop to that point or make your hire someone that can rise to that position. Your current decision-making should be informed by that aspirational future reality.

In a very similar way, Jesus’ teaching was that we are to be incredibility present, aware, and engaged in the world around us. We are to be present and honest about things as they are. But we are also to live in the tension of a redemptive possibility. The hope of things to come should influence and help guide our current reality. One is tethered to the other with the future bringing perspective to the current day.

We should live today and makes decisions that are deeply influenced by the day to come. And, by the way, the future we are shown is pretty extraordinary. Broken things mended. All things set right. Everything restored to what it was intended to be, but even better from the overcoming.

In a way, we are to be amphibious, designed to live in both worlds with tremendous value sourced from both.

We need to claim the essential learning from our past.
Forget the rest.
Be honest about and highly present in our current situation.
Hold tightly to the hope of the future.
Live in the glorious tension of that presence and future.

And we’ve been promised that the future is going to be pretty spectacular!

Consider

Have you gleaned the value from the past you’ve lived?
Are you honest and fully aware of your current situation?
Are you partnering with God to hope and plan for a better future?