Talent part 1
This one is tricky. Because, in my experience, those people with talent--true talent--are usually pretty modest about it. I knew someone, once upon a time, who could draw really well. Like... it blew me away. Partly becasue I can't draw a stick figure with a ruler, but still. And yet, this person was almost embarrassed to show their artwork. Because they didn't think it was any good. Which blew my mind in a completely different way. I think sometimes we have trouble seeing ourselves correctly, is the point I'm trying to make. We think that no matter how good we do something, or how much effort we put into it, it's not good enough. Because it's us doing it. And, yes, I've seen the other side where people with no real talent to speak of in an area think they are the cat's pajamas. They think whatever they do is the best thing ever because it's them doing it. But I think the former is more common. Perhaps because we are taught and trained all our lives to fit in. Not to stand out. Which is a shame. We should train up children in the way they SHOULD go, not in the way they shouldn't. And we shouldn't rain on people's parades. It seems so rare to me that anybody gets truly excited about anything these days that when I see that seed I just want to water it. Help it grow. Because the world needs more of that. The world doesn't need more robots who think life is all about going to work and paying taxes. That IS a part of it, unfortunately a pretty big part of it, but there's more to it than that. There's love. And the best way for YOU to express love is for you to be YOU. For you to do that thing that sets you on fire. Because love IS a consuming fire. For me it's writing. I generally feel the best that I can feel when I'm putting words on a page. I know that's what I was created to do. That's my talent. So, like the last Rant series where we looked at using our three T's to love each other... I write things that I hope will do just that. Love letters to the world, if I can say it that way. But you don't have to write to make a love letter. You can paint. Or dance. Or teach. Or sing. Whatever. Play an instrument. In whatever way God has gifted you... use that gift. Let what's inside come out. By knowing and believing it's in there. Life is a journey of discovery, right? A journey into the heart of the matter. Which is the heart. God's heart beating with love in our chests. God's love inside us coming out of us as we express ourselves. We are the visible expression of an invisible God. People can't see God (LOVE) unless they see Him in us. And through us. And as us. You ARE talented. Whoever you are. I know it. Because that's what I see in 1 Thessalonians 3:12, "And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you." Increasing and abounding in love toward each other. That's how to live life, man. And using our talent to glorify God--to glorify and spread love--is really the only way to do that. Not trying to get, but giving what you've got. Being who you are. Letting what's inside come out. Using your talent to help others and to glorify God!