I had a dream last night. First, let me tell you about an issue we’ve been facing since we’ve moved out here.

You know all those glorious windows across the back of our house? The ones with the spectacular views? They are in every room, but in the living room, the TV is on the wall opposite them. Even with the correct type of screen, there is still a troublesome glare, especially during the summer, so daytime viewing (read: golf game) is less of a pleasure. The obvious answer is window treatments, but, because the living room is sunken two steps from the entry, even opened, the stack of blinds or shades would completely block the view from the front door. That may not sound like a big deal, but it’s what sold me on the house, and I love it! We’ve looked at outside treatments, too, and are contemplating one of them as a future project, but we’re still not sure.

So, my dream.

In it, I pull into the drive and find big work trucks. Puzzled, I enter the house through the front door, and, instead of being met with my beautiful view, I see a row of alternating blue spruce and cypress trees freshly planted just outside the windows. Kevin, resplendent with his fabulous solution, says, “Look honey! I figured it out! Isn’t it GREAT?”Horrified, I turned to him and said…(wait for it)…

I can’t see the forest for the TREES!!

Seriously.

I’ll admit to being relieved to see my view when I woke this morning, but as I’m sitting here enjoying it, and my coffee, I keep thinking about that cheesy line. I get hung up on this type of tunnel vision all the time. Maybe it’s even why I had the dream. I can be so hyper-focused on one thing that it takes all my energy and time, and, sadly, it’s often not the right thing. Then, when I discover my mistake, I’m completely depleted and spent.

There’s a big forest out there, folks, a view we’re meant to see. Maybe if we keep our hyper-focus on the Vine, we’ll see everything a little clearer, with full energy to embrace the view. Maybe the forest AND the trees; at least the ones He intended.

(Which may or may not include blue spruce and cypress. Just sayin’.)

“I will not set before my eyesanything that is worthless…” Psalm 101:3 ESV

“…let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith…” Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 NLT