The Importance Of Thinking Ahead - A Minute of Vision for Men

The Importance of Thinking Ahead

Wayne Gretzky once said, “A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be.”

Customary advice says, “Live in the present. The past is behind you, and the future is so uncertain.” But living in the present can be quite difficult given all the distractions around us. While writing today’s devo, I have been interrupted by three text messages and one urgent e-mail. It’s easy to get distracted by that request we just received in an e-mail while working on our current task.

Although we don’t want to be distracted by the future, living in the present is best informed when we have a vision for our future. I settled the vision for my life on December 1, 2009. Julee and I were on a Royal Caribbean cruise, thirteen nautical miles off the coast of Cuba. I was enjoying the moment, for sure. But in that moment, I was also dreaming about how to live out my days and how to articulate that desire. It was on that ship that I decided how I was going to try to live what I call “the exponential life.” I want to live in such a way that how I lead, speak, and act can affect not only those in my own life but those in the age to come. When I invest in others who invest in others, the ripple effect is immeasurable in my life and in the generations that will follow.

Matthew 25:23 states, “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’” I pray I hear these words, or something like them, from our Lord. Because of this vision, I can look back on days gone by and evaluate, look ahead in order to dream and plan, and make sure that I am using each moment I have been given for what matters most.

The master said, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!”

Matthew 25:23