A Leader's Vision: Seeing Through A Dim Glass

I remember the first time I walked into the house we later purchased. The realtor opened the door, and I stepped into a room framed by a wall of windows overlooking calming waters. In that moment, something in me settled. I felt the serenity in that space. After months of house searching, we found what felt like our home. Even now we still never tire of that view. Guests often comment on the peace they feel in this space, something about it speaks to the heart.

One day as I was looking out of the windows, I noticed something that never happened before. The windows appeared clouded over, possibly from the humidity. The view I enjoyed was blurred. Initially, I sighed at the thought of cleaning those large windows at that moment but the haze was so unsettling I had no choice. I grabbed supplies to wipe the windows inside and out, and though it improved, the glass remained foggy. Annoyed, I wondered if the windows needed to be replaced. I thought, that’s going to be expensive but I could not live with this cloudy view. I sat down quietly waiting, and without further intervention the fog lifted on its own. My view was sharper now because the windows were not only clear but clean.

That moment reminded me of leadership. In a previous post, I wrote about personal filters and how they can distort a leader’s perception. In the same way, cloudy vision blurs a leader’s ability to see and serve others well. Filters distort from within; cloudy vision distorts from without and both are distractions that block clear line of sight.

To lead well, we must be mindful of what we allow to pass through our filters and enter our atmospheres. Jesus taught in Mark 7:15, “It’s not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart."(NLT)

In other words, there is real danger not only from the fog on the window (distracted/blurred vision), but the condition of our hearts (unclean filters) that shape our words, decisions, and actions towards the people we lead. Family members, friends, and colleagues can be defiled by unclean filters and foggy vision when issues remain unresolved, distractions become the primary focus, or influences remove the ability to discern what is right or wrong.

If we pause, reflect, let God change our filters (heart) and remove the fog (distractions), our perspective sharpens. Our leadership becomes not only clearer, but cleaner.

Reflection

What “fog” may be blurring your vision right now?

How are your words and actions reflecting the condition of your heart as a leader?