I heard recently that Leeds City Council is developing its Vision 2030 over the next few months. I did a Google search and discovered that there are 2030 visions being looked at in Abu Dhabi, Sydney, Kenya, Gateshead, Jamaica, Bahrain, Dublin and in the New Covenant church in London! So something is afoot.
We all need a future to strive for; we all need direction in our lives.
From a Christian perspective it is vital that we have imagination at the forefront of our faith, living, praying, preaching and doing and that this imagination comes from God. Walter Brueggemann has done much to encourage this, see “Tests under negotiation”, and “The Prophetic imagination” both published by Fortress Press.
Unsurprisingly I recall Proverbs 29 v18: “Where there is no vision the people perish;” Authorised Version). It is true that vision into the future is vital for life. Even though it is in vogue we shouldn’t decry it for God offers everything in creation purpose and hope and always comes with a future agenda. Vision is vital and vision is a God thing. As someone of 48 I need to know where my life is heading.
Now Proverbs 29 v18 can read differently in other versions; “Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint;” (New International Version). Now here’s a thing. There is a danger that a 2030 vision is a pure fantasy or piece of escapism. I dream what I want and it may have no relation to reality. In asking me to dream I am encouraged to fantasise I might become so tied to my dream that I will lose perspective and do anything for it now. To avoid this I need insight into how I got to here now; envisioning for the future needs understanding of the past and recognition of the present. It is about the ways and values that got us to today and sussing out the good and bad, lasting and temporary in these. That’s why the second half of Proverbs 29 v18 says “but blessed is the one who keeps the law.” (New International Version).
I also need to know that envisioning is not a ‘me’ thing; it is about ‘we’ and ‘us’. This is about our vision. That needs revelation and understanding to be aware of the others around me. Without this all restraint will be cast off and we will be suspicious of, jealous or and fearful of one another as we fight for our individual visions.
In another version Proverbs 29 v18 reads: “Where there is no prophecy, the people cast off restraint.” (New Revised Standard Version). So finding a vision is not just about digging inside ourselves is about listening to what life and direction says to us – that is prophecy.
The New Century Version puts it: “Where there is no word from God, people are uncontrolled.” So as a Christian I believe that when I listen for what life is about and where it is heading I am attentive to God. I see from the documents about the 2030 vision in Leeds that this is about Children and young people, the city centre, climate, community safety, culture, sport, the economy, harmonious communities, older people, skills, employment, transport and the environment. I guess that God could have something to say about all of these, not just the harmonious communities bit.
All of us are involved in vision. We should avoid the argument that if you’re old you aren’t part of this because you won’t be around in 2030! Because the wisdom of the older shapes the future and the actions of the present pave the way for it.
Having said that I am a little wary of politicians with mandates that last 5 years max talking a little glibly about such a long term vision. Don’t get me wrong: they should be doing this our democracy is vital; it is most encouraging; but it is all the more vital to involve the whole community for it is our vision and by 2030 most of the politicians will be one of us! So as the politicians vitally lead they should consider how inclusive the timetable and processes are.
This is a bit of a long blog – Time to wind up. I think we should all be part of this 2030 vision stuff in Leeds; connect through www.leedsinitiative.org/visionforleeds.
Then I come back to me as a person. At this stage of my life I desperately need a vision; I worry that it might be escapism; I know how hard it is to gel my vision with those closest to me. This isn’t about Leeds City Council but it is about God, life and relationships.
Maybe the Message gets closest to what it means for me in my personal life: “If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble over themselves, but when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed.”
From a stumbler seeking blessing.