By Yinka Dixon

Travelling on the motorway, cars weave in and out of lanes like a game of “Catch me if you can”. Having done it myself, several times, I used to wonder who owns the space in front of the car I just occupied. It certainly didn’t belong to the driver now behind me, because I didn’t push her out. Have you noticed how when you overtake someone, they can get quite upset? Why, you often wonder, are they upset? If the space was not theirs before you got there, why should they be upset that you took it before they did? And if they had taken that space, it wouldn’t be the same space, because there would still be space in front of them. And so you wonder. Because the space you just occupied had always been meant for you, only you had not reached the point where you could have occupied it, until then.

My question is, “what do you see”? Or should I say, “what is in your vision”? One writer was describing what he saw in a valley of “very dry” bones. In the midst of absolutely dead dryness he saw an awesome power at work that determined that anything can be regenerated and enlivened. Step by step he described what he saw, vividly energised by the power in his vision. To avoid confusion, I checked the meanings of “dream” and “vision”. A “dream” is described, amongst other things, as “a series of pictures or events in the mind of a sleeping person”, “a state of mind without proper perception of reality”, while “Vision” is described as “the act or faculty of seeing – sight”, “a thing or idea perceived vividly in the imagination”. A dream is associated with sleep and unconsciousness, while a vision is related to sight, seeing, the eyes, and mental sagacity.

It should be, but is not always clear, that we cannot see the same things in the same way, because we don’t have other people’s eyes. One writer said “a people that know their God shall be strong; and they shall do exploits”. I wonder what challenges his prevailing surroundings posed, and what exact strengths and abilities he saw in himself when he made that declaration. Attempting to fill a space that you don’t see, in front of another car, will only cause an accident. But if you see space, no matter how small, and you believe the space you see is for you, you will take action in order to occupy. First you will accelerate, indicate your motive, and briskly make a clean, short and sharp manoeuvre. Sadly, many folks want to act other people’s visions, without seeing what those people see. They can’t see anything themselves. Blind as a bat, they are, having eyes but seeing nothing. They exist only to becloud the vision of those who see. Watch out, because only you can see what is in your vision. When others catch your vision, you will know. Keep your focus on your own vision.

One writer said “write down your vision, so that whoever wishes to run with it, might be energised by what you saw, which they can now see” (my translation). I remember watching a video of people running from behind a crowd. Those at the front, started running as well without knowing why. Why do you do what you do? What do you hope to achieve? Are you energised by what you do? Are you doing it because other people are doing it? Are you doing it to please other people? Are you making progress by doing this thing? These are personal questions nobody can answer for anybody. People may think they know the answers to your questions. The fact is they usually don’t. Answers may be similar, because personalities could be identical. To be identical means to look like” something/someone. Believe me, there is only one “original” and that is “you”. Ask questions. But be true to your own self.

So folks, be original. Sit yourself down; see your own vision (your mind’s eye) and apply it to your own life. Don’t spend time attempting to cast shadows on other people’s vision. It’s fruitless, because if that person has sight, and applies foresight, what they see will come to life. Spend your time, rather, developing what you see in your own vision. Write it down, believe in it, ask questions and make plans. One writer said “faith, or belief in something, is dead without corresponding action”. Be ready to action your plan, and when the time comes, as it surely will, things will go smoothly, and people will think you’re so clever. Yes, because your gift of sight and foresight gave you the advantage and the alertness, which you capitalised on. Clever you!!!