Beyond Wishful Thinking
If you haven’t noticed, I’m quite the fan of Will Mancini and his latest book, Church Unique. Which is pretty convenient, since as an Auxano team member (a firm founded by Will Mancini, by the way), promoting Will’s ideas and Church Unique also serve to promote the work that I do… 
Truth be told, however, it was Will’s unique vision on vision that compelled me to become part of Auxano in the first place. Seriously. In fact, I was contemplating starting my own firm to do what I’m doing now when I first came across the Auxano website a couple of years ago.
Will’s own stunningly unique vision for Auxano literally “had me at hello” (to steal a line from the movie Jerry Maguire). Why? Because his articulation of the vision God had given him resonated with me at a deep level - and matched in an eerie and unmistakable way with the calling God was giving me.
The importance of “clarity first,” along with these three unique values especially caught my attention:
- Egoless clarity
- Carnivorous learning
- Contagious passion for the bride of Christ
That rocks, doesn’t it?!! Well - it did for me anyway…
I have to admit though, my first thought was “dang it - somebody’s beaten me to the punch!” This was quickly replaced, however, with a sense that I was not in fact insane, and that perhaps God was calling me to unite with other like minded visionaries, rather than seeking to blaze a trail on my own.
So why do I tell this story? To illustrate a point, namely that a unique articulated vision is a powerfully attractive force.
The converse of this is true as well: an unarticulated vision is simply wishful thinking. If your vision is ever to have wings, it has to be articulated!
What are your thoughts? Have you ever had an experience like I’ve described above? Do you have a unique vision you feel compelled to tell the world about? Is it simply a dream, or is it becoming reality?
You are so “lucky” to have your career objectives collide with a fellow visionary. That just about gives me the chills.
I am going to put the following words, in about 72 point type, on the wall on my office:
“A unique articulated vision is a powerfully attractive force.
An unarticulated vision is simply wishful thinking.”
When we did the !New! Corporate Worship class from the fabulous BTCL, that very point jumped out at me as the Most Important Point of the entire session. Some churches die a slow, ingrown death when they don’t get that.
May I respectfully offer up, that “A unique, articulated vision = MORE than a snowball’s chance”.