Without a vision, the people perish
Writing is such a powerful force as it brings to the surface what lay dormant, hidden for years. Each evening as I come to write I trust something bigger than my own insecurities and as I do it is as if I am turned inside out. The vulnerable, usually hidden, is brought to the fore as the most trusted is allowed to do its work.
Yesterday as I wrote I was awoken to a notion that I seemed to have forgotten, visionary living. Today the old proverb in the title has been present.
Frequently I am in conversations with folks who say they have no meaning for their lives and if they could they would press the off button. I have been at a loss how to respond though aware of the seriousness of their state I have attempted to lift their curtains of darkness and let the light in. Now, this ancient proverb comes to me and reminds me of a truth, “If we do not have a vision for our lives we will perish.”
When I was a child I didn’t think much of tomorrow so absorbed was I in the life of today. School was crucial for me as it gave me a sense of being part of a class and we created our own world. No matter from where we came when we arrived in class we entered another world, a world that on the whole was pretty good.
It was when I entered my teenage years that my world began to falter. I was less absorbed in the life of today and had become distracted by the conflict in which I was living. The daily news reflected the negative narrative of the Northern Irish conflict and my world began to look apocalyptic. An apocalyptic world engenders fear, division and ‘them’ and ‘us’.
Yet, and perhaps this is at the core of my belief, a spark remains in each individual that this situation can get better, that this is not the end. If the wind blows right that spark can set the most darkened soul ablaze.
Around the age of 17, I must have caught that wind as from then on I began to try and live a visionary life. For the next 13 years that seemed to be the way I lived. By thirty perhaps life settles, the pursuits of youth have ended and responsibilities rather than visionary living determine the day.
Truth be told, a child was born who was the greatest vision of my life though great also was the responsibility.
In a way, the strangest thing has happened over the last 17 years which was far from clear as it was happening, I was being taught how to embrace each day as a vision all of itself. Visionary living did not have to be propelled by the future but simply knowing that the day we are in will never be repeated. When the truth of that penetrates you live the day differently. There is never a same day as there is never a same day.
It doesn’t mean the day does not have its challenges but it does mean that all that is required of us is to live this day, not tomorrow but this day.
See you tomorrow, hopefully,
g.
