What’s Your Micro-Vision?

How do you teach a toddler to set the table? In a recent address at the ARC Conference, Jordan Peterson tells the story of how he trained his 18-month-old son to do this very thing. His method was to break down the complex project into “a hundred micro-routines.” First he taught his son to get a fork from the drawer; next, to place it on the table. This learning of small steps continued until the little boy could set the whole table. 

Jordan Peterson shares this story to show how we might live out an identity of faith and responsibility. He states that the biblical image of Jacob’s Ladder reveals that small steps have the power to unite heaven and earth. As we grow in our ability to faithfully execute “micro-visions,” our vision expands to include more people and greater goods. He says, “We look into the future and cast upon the unknown landscape of the future a vision—a vision that provides us with hope and security, and then we bear the responsibility of attending and acting in a manner that makes that hopeful and security-providing vision possible.”

This week, I invite you to ask yourself: 

What is your big vision? How well does this big vision do at providing you with hope and security? In what ways does this vision break through and shape your day-to-day life? What is your next micro-vision, the very next thing that you’re committed to faithfully executing in order to bring your big vision a little closer to reality?  

God bless,
Dan

P.S. I recommend checking out the full 23 minute talk here.