A blind spot (in driving) is an area in a car where the driver of the car simply can't see from his/her vantage point without turning his/her head to check. This picture highlights the different points where a driver is completely blind. In driving school, they teach a very simple lesson about this...

CHECK YOUR BLIND SPOTS.

It is the DRIVER's job to check his/ her blind spots before making a move. Sure, a wise driver nearby should avoid another car's blind spots; but technically, it is the DRIVER's responsibility to check his/her blind spots.

Spiritually, we have blind spots too.

One of the most famous examples of this in the Bible is the story of David (Read the entire story in 2nd Samuel 11-12). David had everything money could buy and then some. One day, David saw something he couldn't have, and it drove him nuts. David saw a beautiful woman named Bathsheeba bathing and he wanted her... HAD to have her... problem was... she was already married to another man. Her husband Uriah wasn't just any man, he was a great man.

What did David do? He chose to put on his horse blinders and decided pursue his lust no matter how great the cost. Well, things got really messed up. The woman gets pregnant, David tries to cover it up, and winds up killing Uriah (his best soldier/commander) all because he chose to ignore the truth. Blind spots exist because sin exists, and Before we bash on David... we do this too!

The two "dimensions" of blind spots.

1. Those who simply don't know.
-Many times in life, we simply don't know that a blind spot is there. When we find out about it, we feel terrible, ashamed, and really want to make a change. I have had this happen to me plenty of times in life. I believe this is still sin, but it is sin of ignorance. Once the truth is brought into the light the person has the choice to either embrace the truth, or move to the next dimension of blindness by hardening their hearts.

2. Those who choose to believe their own lies.
-People who believe their own lies know the truth, but they think "know better" than God. Somehow, they feel exempt from the rules that apply to the rest of the universe. David was at this point the entire time until he saw the truth in a simply story from Nathan the prophet. He was choosing to believe what he wanted to be true rather than embrace what really was true.

Have you put some "horse blinders" on in an area of your life?

Being unaware for a period of time is one thing, but putting on horse blinders and willfully ignoring the truth will only wind up hurting YOU in the end. Leaders put on horse blinders all the time when they spiritualize failure and keep repeating the same things while expecting a different result. People do this all the time when confronted with something they don't like about themselves.

Pastors often get slammed by people wearing "horse blinders" because we are the ones who bring up the things people don't like about themselves. Rather than addressing the problem, people with "horse blinders" on simply attack the messenger. Pastors are prone to mistakes too, but for the most part they only want to help you improve your life. Rather than get angry, CHECK YOUR BLIND SPOT!

If you have "horse blinders" on and don't know what to do... here's some advice.

1. ACCEPT THE TRUTH.

You will not be able to see the future clearly as long as you deny the present. Accept where you are wrong, ask forgiveness from Christ (AND the people involved) and experience the grace of Christ in that situation.

2. BRING NEW PEOPLE into your life who will ask you tough questions. This one is CRUCIAL.

Many "friends" aren't real friends. Don't surround yourself with haters, but also don't surround yourself with people who just tell you what you want to hear. The goal of life is to become more like Christ. To get there, we need people in our lives who will be honest. AND we need to not attack those people when they tell us the truth.

3. WATCH GOD WORK!

This is the exiting part! When God shows up in someone's life and removes the scales of blindness, it's an incredible sight to see.

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I've been thinking a lot lately about how a person can "KNOW WHEN IT'S TIME TO GO." Life is one gigantic state of transition. We move from one place to live to the next, one school to the next, one occupation to the next, one stage of life to the next, and in between there are dozens of tiny adjustments and readjustments along the way.

If that's true, then how do we know if it's time to "FORCE" a transition? In other words... how do we know when it's time to go? To make this more simple, I'm applying this post specifically to leaving a job, but it's principles apply to any life transitions.

1. When in doubt... STAY PUT.

I think God is more interested in HOW we do what we do than what we do. In other words, God doesn't care if a person is a plumber, a businessperson, or a pastor. What He cares about is if that person is a HARD-WORKING plumber, an HONEST businessperson, or a FAITHFUL pastor.

Colossians 3:23-24 says "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." (Colossians 3:23-24).

So if God is stirring something up inside of you but you're still hashing through your thoughts and feelings... STAY PUT. A bad job is still better than no job. If you're in a tough spot, work hard as if Jesus himself was your boss and start dreaming about a better future.

2. Weigh the options.

Every profession/calling/leading will have elements you will not enjoy. Some parts of the grass might be greener on the other side, but there will always be tasks that are not particularly enjoyable. When looking for a new job, more money often translates to more stress. Whenever making a "jump," weigh all the options on the table BEFORE making the leap.

3. Wise counsel.

The word "counsel" appears over 90 times in the Bible. Proverbs 15:22 says "Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed." Good counsel includes counsel from the Lord (in prayer/Bible reading/however you spend time with him), AND counsel from a few trustworthy people. The "trinity" of wise counsel is you, God, and people who are for you.

SIDEBAR: while you are in the "counsel" phase of the decision, KEEP IT TO YOURSELF. It is really important not to spill the beans to the wrong person. It causes problems you won't want.

4. Don't over-spiritualize the decision.

I am a Christian, and I want God to drive ALL my decisions. Having said that, I have seen people waiting for "signs" from the Lord and MISS the truth. The right counsel in your life will tell you when you are out of line, and they will also tell you when it's time to make a decision. Pray about it, talk about it, but don't over-spiritualize the decision. God gave you a brain and free will. USE THEM!

5. Create a vision for "The New You."

The worst reason to leave a job is because someone isn't "happy" at the current one. Being "unhappy" at a job probably says more about your heart than it does your job. The Bible talks about being content wherever God puts us (2 Cor. 12:10; Phil. 4:11; 1 Tim. 6:8; Heb. 13:5).

Having said that, there are still valid reasons to leave. Instead of leaving because of unhappiness, create with a vision for "The New You." "The New You" is honest about your strengths, weaknesses, and has a clear mental picture of what life should be like. Sometimes, compromises must be made to achieve "The New You." That's OK! Less money might mean more freedom. If that's part of the vision for "The New You," celebrate that. Get a clear picture of what you are looking for so that you know how to prioritize the options. The goal is to find something where you can operate in your strengths as much as possible.

BOTTOM LINE: A new job is not just a new job, it should include a new vision for your life. Behind it, underneath it, and in front of it is a sense that God is creating a new "you" already. When it comes, you'll be ready! LEAD WITH VISION, and God will take you great places.

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