The vision you see everyday but ignore

From my experience, growing in a family that had but lost, I used to see myself different. In the midst of great lack and struggle, I always felt strong and my family never understood why sometimes I never cared about the situation. As a young chap who could not be listened too, neither I nor my family could explain what was going on inside me. I always felt stronger, wiser and within me, I always saw myself happy and having what I wanted. As a believer, I often believe this was God trying to show me who I was supposed to be. In other words, He never wanted me to worry much or even recognize that there was a problem: and so, I kept positive.

I always saw something within me and sometimes, I could something telling me that I can do something but didn’t know exactly what that something was. These voices in me and pictures of greatness have lived in me since age of 10, but I had never given them much attention even with their constant call within. However, 13yrs back while in Advanced Level – secondary, after I had given a speech about why students had to elect me as their minister for entertainment; my entire life changed on that day. The head of the program who happened to be a Director of Studies came and told me, “You have a gift and if you work on it, you will change many lives.”

I lived with this voice inside me up to university when I felt compelled to do something about what I had been told. I started reading, contested on many positions, participated in many debates but with life challenges and less guidance, I always gave up on me and my thoughts. But it never left me; often my lecturers would thank me for my contributions during lectures: and they would repeat the same words my secondary school teacher told me on that special day of my life.

But the truth is, because of fear, average esteem, less inspiration, guidance and personal circumstances; I kept on running away from this sacred voice inside. I kept on postponing my calls, but I never knew that it would keep on keeping on. And this has inspired me to tell you about that vision you see in pictures, but have kept on running away from it.

Postponing what is inevitable has been a challenge to me since 2009: There are moments I knew what to do, how to do it and when to do it but instead opted not to do it. Why? I have had a tendency of comparing my present situation especially financially with a great idea that is in my mind. I would usually say to myself, “Simon, according to the list of things you must do now – you can’t afford to add on this one. Remember, you have to pay your debts, you need to finish up something, you need to buy cloths and look good, you need to hang out with friends, you have to go to the beach and you have to disguise who you really are – hey, why worry, you will get a job and never have to stress yourself with such things – they are not for you; you don’t have what it takes…I mean, look at yourself, you’re struggling: the only thing you need is a job. So, think, do you think you need to stress yourself? You’ll do it when you get money”

All that conversation was taking place inside me and no one could even imagine it. What a life I lived?!

In that situation just between me and my soul – we both kept on postponing our purpose thinking of doing it in the future. But one day in December 2012 while eating a mango at a priest’s place who happens to be my spiritual father– as I was collecting the leftovers to be thrown in the bin and he said – “do you see that mango seed?” I said, YES! He continued, “The future of that seed is within that seed itself. I went into silence: then he continued – “whatever that seed needs to become a mango tree – is within it not outside.”

I thought for a moment and then asked, “What do you mean by that?” He then told me, “Stop comparing your current situation with God’s dreams and visions He has put in you.” He continued: “whatever you need to become the person God created you to be is inside of you – It is simply trapped within you. You must begin today and now, with what you have, the way you’re and do something. That is the only way you can know whether you can or not – but don’t judge your power by what you think you can.”

As a result of that simple conversation – my life changed. I started thinking of this vision that I had always had in me, always felt and even seen whenever I closed my eyes – but had always pushed in the future. Till that time, I had not learned that I was already in my future – and it was just trapped within me. But what had always stopped me was, thinking that I had no enough power, finances to do it and that, I had lots of things to do: and that this, vision could always be done since it is mine. I always thought that I needed money to make a difference in someone’s life or to live my purpose of creation. I was wrong!

I believe, a lot of people are like me – they too think, they have a lot to handle and do today: sometimes they feel, this vision of a beautiful family, writing a book and influencing the world using their gifts – is impossible compared to their current situation. Many are still trapped at their jobs by little privileges – they have refused to start on their dreams because of fear to lose their jobs, their life and fear to subject themselves to stress of fulfilling something.

I am here to tell you, “Stop comparing your current situation with that vision God has placed in your mind.” If He did that and especially now – it means He has already created an environment for you to begin and finish it. My spiritual father told me, “Whatever God puts in your mind as a vision, He has finished it. He always reminds me that God first prepares the environment for something before releasing it – he says, before he created the fish, he made the waters; before the birds – He put up the skies; before the plants – He made the earth. And so, before giving you that vision – He finished it first.”

Kindly, get it from me – Stand up and do something; where you’re, with what you have and the way you’re. You’ll finally come to believe like me that, things are possible. The only thing that limits us – are the thoughts we give platform in our minds every day. Change your thinking – change your life and that of others who believe in you.

When you act on that vision; when you do something about it; when you overcome your fears and do it, you will be amazed by how powerful and exceptional you are. And that something which you will have done – will become an inspiration to the people around you: and together, with those small actions of faith, we shall have had our contribution to making this world a more hopeful community to all the children of God.