"The missionary speaker we had in Sunday school today was so interesting," Cheryl told her mother as they arrived home from church one Sunday. "I think missionaries have such an exciting life -- traveling far away and seeing strange places and different people. And they get to tell the Gospel to people who've never heard it before. That would be great! Maybe I'll be a missionary some day. I hope God calls me to Japan."

Mother smiled and went to answer the phone. After a moment, she held her hand over the mouthpiece. "Cheryl," she said, "Mrs. Fisher would like you to go with her tomorrow afternoon to visit some girls who have just moved into our neighborhood."

"Sue and I want to go roller-blading tomorrow," replied Cheryl. "Besides, I wouldn't know what to say to those girls. Do I have to go?"

Mother spoke into the phone. "Cheryl will call you later, Mrs. Fisher," she said. After hanging up the phone, she turned to her daughter. "Do you remember what the optometrist said when you had your eye examination a week ago?" asked Mother.

"Sure, I do." Cheryl nodded. "He said I had 20/20 vision," she answered, "and that means I have perfect eyesight. At twenty feet I can see exactly what our eyes are supposed to see from that distance."

"Right," said Mother, "and I'm glad you have 20/20 vision in your eyes. But when it comes to your missionary vision, it seems to me that you're farsighted."

Cheryl beamed. "Do you say that because I'm interested in mission work in far away places? That's good, isn't it?"

Mother shook her head. "Not exactly," she replied. "A person whose eyes are farsighted can't see objects up close very well. You're excited about going far away to tell people about Jesus, but you don't seem to be interested in the girls in the next block. If you don't want to witness here, what makes you think you'd want to witness if you went far away?"