The eclipse rises over Joshua Tree — a reminder that vision returns, even when light feels partial.
Excerpt
In technology and in discipleship, problems rarely fail because of missing data. They fail because we cannot see far enough ahead to understand the consequences of our choices.
Intro
In IT, I have learned that anxiety often narrows vision. Early in my career, I walked into a colleague’s office convinced I had the solution to a thorny issue in a project we were co-leading. I explained what I thought we should do and why. He listened calmly, then looked across the desk and said simply, “Think about how this plays out.”
He walked me through the likely reactions of team members, the downstream effects on systems, and the unintended consequences I had not considered. His calm allowed him to think more strategically than I was able to in that moment. What I lacked was not intelligence or effort, but perspective.
Notes from the Author
In infrastructure work—whether designing a Cisco Meraki network, planning a VMware migration, or making security changes—short-sighted decisions can create long-term pain. A fix that looks elegant today can become tomorrow’s outage if we fail to see how it will unfold over time.
Perspective
When God called Enoch to be a prophet, He described a people who suffered from the same problem:
I am angry with this people, and my fierce anger is kindled against them; for their hearts have waxed hard, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes cannot see afar off;
Moses 6:27
This was not merely a failure of perception. It affected how they treated one another and how they made decisions. Their inability to see beyond the present moment led to cruelty and violence. God’s work with Enoch began by expanding his vision before expanding his influence.
The Lord said to Enoch:
Anoint thine eyes with clay, and wash them, and thou shalt see.
Moses 6:35
After doing so, Enoch saw “things which were not visible to the natural eye” (Moses 6:36). With that expanded perspective, he was prepared to teach.
In modern terms, this feels familiar. When working with systems, clarity comes only after stepping back—diagramming dependencies, understanding traffic flow, or modeling failure scenarios. Seeing afar off is what separates reactive fixes from resilient design.
Peter later warned Church members of this same danger:
He that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off.
2 Peter 1:9
Elder David A. Bednar taught how this expanded vision is developed, especially within families:
Parents who consistently read and talk about the Book of Mormon with their children, who share testimony spontaneously with their children, and who invite children as gospel learners to act and not merely be acted upon will be blessed with eyes that can see afar off.
“Watching with All Perseverance,” April 2010 general conference
He directed this promise to parents—a reminder that, like Enoch, we must see more clearly ourselves in order to help others develop clearer vision. Scripture study sharpens perspective the way system diagrams sharpen architectural thinking. It reveals consequences that are not obvious in the moment.
Moroni extended a similar invitation:
…remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
Moroni 10:3
Practice Today (Not Someday)
Today, I will slow down long enough to see farther. Before making decisions, I will consider downstream effects—on people, systems, and relationships. I will study the gospel not only for answers, but for perspective, trusting that clearer vision leads to wiser choices.
Final Reflection
Whether designing networks or building faith, short-term fixes can create long-term problems. Seeing afar off requires patience, humility, and calm. When perspective expands, decisions improve—and so does the impact of our service.
Pocket I’m Keeping
Clarity comes when I stop reacting
and start seeing farther.
What I Hear Now
If I expand my vision,
the right decisions become clearer.
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