The vision of a visionary is always bigger than the visionary and it carries the potential to accommodate and uplift many people when it comes to fruition. At times, when a visionary is still in the process of pursuing his God given vision and dream, most people take him for someone working for himself, but when the vision and dream comes to fruition, sometimes, even those who didn't participate in anyway, fight and even trample on others for a "piece of the pie."
Some months back, I visited Benson Idahosa University Benin City Nigeria to address students of the "All Nations for Christ" and to meet with few friends serving at BIU. I said to myself, when the Arch Bishop Benson Idahosa was pursuing the dream and vision given to him, I believe, they were individuals who thought he was doing something for himself and family, but today, his vision and dream have provided jobs for several individuals and created space for countless others to also realize their aspirations. Those employed in BIU today may be individuals who don't know the travail, which led to the establishment of the place accommodating them today.
When Joseph told his brothers his dream, they hated him for it. He was pitted, potted, and sold by his brothers; little did they know that, their preservation in the future was connected to the dream they hated Joseph for. Small-minded people are always like that; they are limited in the way they think; they don't see the connection between the God given dream and vision of others and their own destiny.
One of the perils of being a visionary is that, the people who hurt a visionary the most are always the same people the visionary is sent to uplift. It wasn't the Egyptians who said to Moses, "Who made you a ruler over us," but the same people he was fighting to protect and whom he ultimately served as their deliverer. It wasn't the Gentiles who said to Pilate "crucify him, crucify him," but the Jews; those Christ first reached out to. In fact, his own people!
The most challenging assignment in this life is that of being a visionary leader with a God given vision and dream for the preservation and uplifting of a generation. At times, even those called to work alongside a visionary, stand afar off like Peter in the time when their encouragement is highly needed. Thank God for the “Simon of Cyrene”; who are always there when a visionary gets tired and weary; they come to help carry his cross to a distance.
PAPA, Arch Bishop Benson Idahosa, my father, my father, "the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof;"of blessed memory, is no longer on earth in person, but many are feeding fat on his labor. How I wish everyone who is today driving exotic jeeps and living in opulent mansions within the Benson Idahosa establishment reflect on the story of what they are a part of today, as inspiration to live for something bigger than themselves. The God given vision and dream of a visionary is always bigger than the visionary, those who know this, humbly stand with a visionary not as if they are doing him a personal favor, but as privileged by God to participate in birthing God's will on earth as it is in heaven for the uplifting and preservation of people. DrBenard Etta
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