In case you missed it, in our last post we talked about the importance of vision. How we see, or the way we see describes the type of person we are. In fact, this whole series is all about the necessary elements required for the journey of navigating the intricacies or what we might call the maze. Remember, the maze is for each of us, whatever type situation we feel we’re having to navigate with dead ends, elusive exits, or blocked views. Be it a program, a job, health complications, a marriage, a reintegration process, etc.
Vision is one of the things that we all bring into a maze, and narratives are just another of those key elements that are brought into what is called “the maze of grace”. Elements are necessary as building blocks inserted into something complicated.
Narratives are these self-imposed ideas that have developed over time in our life based on position, socio-economic condition, and experiences. If vision describes the type of person we are, narratives tell the story in a much more defined way. These narratives are basically the things we tell our self or sell our self on – regardless of where it stands in relation to true, or right.
Each of us can tell a story because each of us has a story. In a perfect world, the benefit would be to tell a better story since we can readily admit we all see differently; and we can easily consider how certain narratives that enter in to or relate to, our personal field of vision. We do in fact, follow what we see to be true. 
Positive and negative accounts or depictions also describe the type of person we are. These tell-tale signs either attract or repel others. Leaving us to consider how our self-talk might be hindering or help our vision in seeing a better future. Difficult self-conversations no doubt, can leave us dark and empty at times.
Maybe someone reading this article in the past (or present), is experiencing a difficult situation that doesn’t allow in much light. Because of the darkness of the pain of separation, divorce, unemployment, or a host of other crushing situations, the cost of embitterment has been too high for too long to not change the way we see things; or how we may tell the story. Having listened to enough of this damaging self-talk – has certainly eroded any sense of truth for any of us to see a glint of light.
Perhaps you’ve given up seeing any light in a church situation, or within a recovery program, or your job or your marriage because walls have been built up with false assumptions and stories we’ve told ourselves continuously over time. Maybe the current path of transition (within or outside of a program) has become so darkened by inefficient leadership or fraudulent means, that the turn off has caused you to choose to go live next to an Oak tree instead.
Seemingly perfect circumstances are elusive for most of us readers. The thick cloak that hangs over the edge of any current relatable story has become somewhat impenetrable. To be brought to the edge of deliberation, is to be brought to the end.
When hopelessness has reached its full measure and has reached our doorstep or the doorstep of someone we may know, we obviously interpret the scenario in a much different light. No shadow or variation to discuss. Only items directly or indirectly related to that matter. However, next time let’s consider how governing vision helps the right way to telling ourselves the need to discover an out.
