Vision and the Battle

I am totally stealing this post from Ben Arment. It really resonated with me today and I can identify with his comments.

"Vision is dangerous for leaders
Where there is NO vision, the people perish. But where there IS vision... the leader gets beat up.
I've discovered that when I'm not casting vision, life at RCC is easy. I'm the guy walking the halls in a white jump suit pointing and winking at people with "Staying Alive" playing in the background. Of course, our church doesn't go anywhere during these times. We're like the fun-ship carnival cruise. Just tell me when the buffet opens.

But when I'm casting vision, there's tension... there's diversion of eye-contact... some folks are trying to decide if this is the church for them... I hear more complaints about my preaching... some even wonder if I'm old enough to lead a church. Suddenly, I'm fly paper for criticism.
Vision is the most powerful tool in the church outside of the Holy Spirit. It moves people toward what is right, what is biblical, what God wants for our lives. But the very nature of vision puts a big ol' bull's eye on the leader's chest."

I liked Ben's insight on vision. Not only is there a "human side" to the bull's eye on the leader's chest, but there is the "spiritual side" and the fiery darts that come at you from the evil one. Vision places the leader right in the middle of the battle.