Vision Without Sight
Can you have vision without sight?
Most equate vision with sight. However, sight is only one definition for vision, it’s not the one integral to successful living.
An old writer friend claimed I am a visionary without vision since I have no sight. I used to have useful vision, or sight, but was diagnosed with an incurable, progressive eye disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa.
I have been losing sight ever since, but have been gaining vision without knowing it or making the connection.
As my natural sight dissipated one sliver at a time, I began anticipating what would happen and prepared ahead for the most basic of my needs. This gave me a level of success.
The basic definition of vision is the ability to think about, or plan ahead, with imagination or wisdom.
I’d like to think mine was wisdom during those college years when I determined to be successful to graduate and find a job as an elementary special education teacher. But that would be wrongly flattering myself.
God had mercy on me, and I did graduate and find a teaching job – doing so a few years before sight loss forced me to go on disability.
Other parts of my life friends considered successful for a blind person, but I never connected having vision with it until my sight was down to a sliver of what I call light perception.
Obstacles
When younger, I could jump out of bed and begin my day after a quick yawn and rubbing of the eyes. Not now.
At first, I blamed it on aging, but here’s the deal. No matter what, I can’t get out of bed without being fully awake. That rules out showering to wake up.
No dragging myself wearily to the kitchen either, to make coffee – not because I don’t drink coffee, but because my brain must be engaged.
When I first wake up, my brain can’t even tell my muscles to move, let alone direct my path. It’s actually easier to tell my husband what to do. Probably because I rehearse what to remind him of before falling asleep, or maybe I’m bossier than I want to admit.
Before my legs hit the floor, I need to know what I’m wearing, the location of my clothes, and what order to do what. That requires alertness and functionality.
I also ask myself, “What obstacles do I need to weave around?”
Babysitting grandchildren and owning pets means plenty of obstacles . . . dangerous ones!
One such morning, I had an epiphany. I realized what I was doing was visualizing. The cool thing was those having vision go through the same process in life.
Remember, vision means the ability to think about or plan the future with imagination or wisdom. To do this one must anticipate what’s ahead.
It’s no wonder vision boards are gaining popularity and used by businesses . . . thinking, planning, and seeing it ahead of time keeps you focused. It is more than goalsetting, and it works.
Did you know its Biblical to have vision?
We all need to have a vision – at least one.
Dream
Dream. Dream big.
Many of my dreams have come true.
I believe God can give us vision as we seek His will, and He will equip us to carry it out.
I love illustrations and to me, having vision is similar to driving a car.
You must first envision where you’re going, especially when going on vacation.
Then you plan and prepare by making sure the tank is full, checking air in the tires and oil pressure, and verifying you have a spare with all the tools to change a flat.
Even when going to the store, you don’t hop in the car without your keys, driver’s license, and money, nor without knowing what you want to buy. If like me, you’d have a list, even though mine is on a digital voice recorder.
While driving, you keep your eyes on the road ahead.
In life, we lack vision. Instead, we’re constantly dodging and swerving harmful situations to avoid head-on collisions.
If not, we tend to spend time staring in the rearview mirror at where we’ve been, rather than living in the present.
I always say we need to live in the present, learn from the past, and look to the future.
Imagine This
Imagine what it would be like if we replaced self-indulgence and entertainment with vision. Actually thinking, planning, and acting on that plan.
Our teens might . . .
*swerve and avoid some bad decisions
*get fast food orders correct
*become responsible, independent, tax-paying adults sooner
Adults might. . .
*live with decreased debt
*have fewer unhealthy relationships
*care more about mankind, improving the world In which we live
At least, I imagine healthier families, a stronger sense of community, higher productivity, increased unity, and kindness gushing out of every household.
I’m not sure how you define success, but my friends are nice and tell me kinder words than I deserve . . . like I’m amazing. I disagree but believe I couldn’t have done any without having a vision or God’s leading.
I’m not sure if it is because I was brave enough to marry when I knew I’d be raising two teenagers, because I home educated with little to no sight, birthed a couple of home businesses. Was willing to be a pastor’s wife before becoming ordained myself, or because I am a writer. None could have been done with sight only.
You can be a visionary with vision, giving you more opportunity for success than me. Use what God has given you and is asking of you.
Thank you for taking time to read and share this message with your friends and family.
© 2023, Jena Fellers. All rights reserved.
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