Vision Vampires
Proverbs 29:18 says “Where there is no vision the people perish.” In context this verse teaches the importance of God’s Word in our lives. If we don’t have God’s Word and a grasp of God’s Word we will perish. We won’t know God’s vision and purpose for our lives. God’s Word is crucial. By extension, when our view of the world begins to be shaped by God’s Word we get a vision for something. It could be for our lives or for our families. It could be for our church or for our ministries. It could be for our business. Without vision from God, we don’t have direction. I’ve often wondered, how does a person or a group of people get to the place where they have no vision?
While there are often many contributing factors to a loss of vision, one in particular stands out to me today. The vision vampire. Have you ever met those people who are against everything? I mean, before you share an idea, they weigh in and talk about all the reasons why something won’t work. It’s not that they have heard you out and listened to a thoughtful presentation. No, they just know it won’t work. Every organization in the world, I suspect, is filled with these naysayers that I call vision vampires. What do you do with a vision vampire?
First, don’t be offended. Most of the time vision vampires don’t have anything personal against you or against your ideas. That’s just what they do. They suck the vision and life out of every idea. Knowing this is helpful because you don’t have to respond with personal animus. Vision vampires don’t have a problem with you; vision vampires have a problem with vision. There is something about change or a particular change that causes them to respond negatively. Knowing this is incredibly freeing and keeps you from bitterness and an antagonistic response.
Second, you should understand the tactics of vision vampires. Vision vampires don’t typically leap from the darkness wearing a sinister outfit and a pitchfork. Vision vampires don’t attack in an obvious and aggressive fashion, otherwise they would lose their surreptitious advantage. Instead, vision vampires speak in professional and mild-mannered tones. The attack of a vision vampire might come through question based on a demonstrably false premise. Vision vampires will raise practical concerns that often sound quite reasonable.
Obviously, no one can perceive the motives of the heart, yet the vision vampire’s visit can be discerned. Asking questions doesn’t make one a vision vampire. Some of your best friends in the world will ask good questions. Those questions help us clarify our vision, help us implement the vision and build momentum. But vision vampires create the opposite results. Does the question suck the life out of the vision? You have a vision vampire on your hands. Does the question present only a caricature of the vision in order to make the vision sound foolish and reckless? You have just heard from a vision vampire.
Finally, continue leading with joy. Don’t let people who don’t support the vision take away from the ones who do. While you can’t ignore the questions of the vision vampire, don’t stay too long on defense. Get back to the vision. If the vision is from the Lord and if it is where God is leading you or your organization, it is worth enduring a little hostility or mischaracterization. If your vision is from God, keep pressing forward and entrust the matter to the Lord.