From my office window I have a field of vision of about 200 yards. While I write, correspond, and transact business I can view a broad range of many things taking place within a particular frame of sight. Just last week I witnessed a coyote, a fox, and a turkey crossing the road at different times all from the seat of my reclining swivel chair.

Seven years ago I planted a popular oramental tree in the landscape. It looked good and fit perfectly for the size that it was. As the tree has grown I noticed that my viewing area was becoming limited. I was starting to strain and rearrange myself whenever something caught my eye and I wanted to look at it closer. It was not overtly observable at first, but eventually my vision was obstructed by approximately thirty percent! I would call that a pretty extreme and unnecessary limitation.

Yesterday, I took some drastic measures. Armed with an axe and a machete, I removed the tree that stood in my way. I had to come to the place where I believed that my vision was more important than the tree. Presently, I now command the full range of view that my window can afford me, and have maximized what it was designed to do.

I have been prompted to apply this experience to the subject of leadership. Have you ever started out with a clear vision and long-range sight to reach a particular goal only to have that vision slowly obscured and hindered by something that has grown out of shape? It is possible that you may not notice that your view is being blocked because it happens slowly and gradually over time. You just wake up one day and feel hemmed-in.

Vision is a key variable in leadership. We have to be able to see where we are going. If there are certain things that have crept in and blocked our view perhaps it is time for drastic measures. Don’t allow invasive things to push their way into your path and hinder you from accomplishing the things that God has directed you to do.

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