Are You A Vagabond Or A Vision Vessel?

It's a good question.  I think all of us at one point of time or another experience a bit the vagabond life. 

Vagabond in the sense represented in “hobo-life.”  It is the term that has historically been used for a person who wanders from place to place.  It’s a bit like strolling around with no defined home or place to live.  Hollywood glamorized the vagabond with the hobo image – a person who lives a carefree life of riding the rails to where ever they may lead. In the 60’s we would call them “flower children.”  However, in real life it must also be an unsettling existence.  In a spiritual life, it’s the essence of lostness!   

Since my early twenties, I would not consider myself a vagabond but I did have seasons of wandering with no clear direction.  In my elementary years I saw a great entrepreneurial opportunity by creating a Dog Circus and charging the neighbors 15 cents to come and see the performance. 

 

In my early twenties, I built surfboard in the old office at my father’s cemetery.  It was a dead-end business!  I know my parents were wondering if I would ever find a “real job.”  Then I began to entertain the idea of ministry and that confirmed to them I would probably live the vagabond life forever!

  

 

I know some of us are still a bit vagabondish.  Even in our adults lives many of us are still unsure about who we are or what we are supposed to be “when we grow up.”  We may not be hobos, but it is nonetheless an unsettling existence.  Being vagabondish in our spiritual life is also living a sense of lostness by wandering around visionless. 

 

When I am without a vision I just sort of meander about without much direction.  When I don’t have a set known path, I can drive miles out of the way.  I just keep pushing where I am not focused.  However, when I have a focal point - meaning a clear focused vision on a future - I can really get energized and productive.  I think most of us are like this.

 

Rather that the senseless wandering vagabond, a more helpful image is that of a vessel. A vessel is a peson thought of as being the receiver or repository of the spiritual influence.  God calls us to a fixed faith, secure in His abode.  This does not mean will live at the same address our entire life.  In fact, following Jesus is an adventure to go.  However, Jesus doesn’t intend us to stroll about in our spiritual life, wandering with no fixed vision-point.  What we really are called to be are Vision Vessels!

 

Too many Christians today find themselves living a vagabond spirituality.  The hard reality is that without vision there is no future hope.  When there is vision, there is life - there is a future!   Faith has often been defined by believing without seeing.  From another point of view faith is vision! 

 

 So, is vision missing in our faith?  Is vision the secret to more fulfilling life a faith?  For the next four weeks at Markham Woods, we will continue with our new sermon series Living Vision Life.  Come and see - life visions are still possible.