Passion, Vision, and Diligence

"Where there is no vision, the people perish." Proverbs 29:18

That seems a bit dramatic, but I didn't make it up. God did via King Solomon. I've been reading the book I mentioned a few posts back, the book that breaks down Proverbs. I brought it on my trip home to Louisiana, and it's concepts are starting to sink in; mainly, the points on diligence and developing a clear vision.

"Diligence is a learnable skill that combines: creative persistence, a smart-working effort rightly planned and rightly performed in a timely, efficient, and effective manner to attain a result that is pure and of the highest quality of excellence."

"Vision is a precise, clearly defined goal within a detailed plan and timetable for achieving that goal."

I'd be lying if I told you that these points were at the forefront of every moment of my time at home, or my time in general. But I am open to being led by the Lord in any scenario.

Scenario: shopping in La:

I was shopping around town at my local favorites, and I didn't feel like going shop for antiques, but I just felt like I should. Like I needed to.

So I fought the traffic and went. I had a raging headache, it was hot as Hades, and I didn't feel like digging through garbage antiques. I gave myself a time out, went to Walgreen's, took some Tylenol, and asked myself why in the world was I doing this on my vacation home.

I pressed on, trying to make the best of it. There's nothing like good-natured cajuns to make your day a little brighter, either. I came across the owner of an antique store, and I started asking questions. In his cajun way, he was so helpful. And then I guess I asked a question that was overstepping his turf a bit. (There's some confidence involved in this business. There is for me, too. That's why I haven't disclosed the point of my location...)

Back to my helpful cajun friend...

He didn't get mad when I asked him a little too much. All he said was, "I can't tell ya all 'a dat." I laughed and said that I understand. I told him that I'm just trying to learn more about these sort of things. Then he said, "Ya know? Down da way, there's 'a lady that can prolly help ya."

He gave me her information, and I went to see her. I walked in, and I had no questions. I didn't know what to ask or say, but all I could think of was that she knew stuff, and I wanted to know more about the stuff she knew. Eloquent, right?

We got to talking. She looked worn out, maybe it was the heat, but I after hearing her speak, she definitely knew what she was talking about. She was an RN, had an interest in antique jewelry, then read about it, became diligent in her reading, and she's acquired quite a collection.

Her kindness was unbelievable. I asked her questions about black jets, opals, alexandrite, paste, and more. She went to her drawer, and said, "Here, you can have them."

She gave me these: Black jets from Czechoslovakia.

I was blown away. She told me that people like me re-energize her and remind her why she's doing what she's doing. That was a compliment to me. Maybe I'm overeager; maybe I'm passionate. Is there a difference?

I thanked her again, and asked if I could keep in touch. She said, "Of course." 

After that, I was re-energized. I was so glad that I pushed through the aggravation, heat, and head ache, and allowed myself to be lead by what was clearly the Lord's Hand.

By then, it was starting to get to be suppertime, and during this entire trip home, I mainly ate by myself or got takeout. It was sort of nice. I decided on overpriced Chinese, so to P.F.Chang's I went. I ate my lettuce wraps and lo mein in front of the TV, almost forgetting about my fortune cookie at the end of my TV dinner meal.  But when I opened my fortune, this is what it read:

You can't make this stuff up. I guess the Lord is showing me the vision I am to have all while being diligent. This day, unbelievably enough, had both of those things that I'm working towards.