Shadow Lurking

Art by: Kumi Yamashita. See more here  

"The easiest way to avoid wrong notes is to never open your mouth and sing. What a mistake that would be." ~ Pete Seeger

Have you ever met a person who poured out into everyone, yet neglected themselves? They may motivate, dedicate, encourage and inspire others but never assist themselves. To be fair and true, there are those who are gifted in the art of building confidence in others, that possess a finesse with words and can discern the needs of a particular situation. However, to spend all their energy in service to and at the discretion of others sims their own light. In conversation, one will say, "How talented is this person, but have you met the person who walks with them?"  

 No one knows how they end up in such a situation often until it is pointed out by others. Usually, such a role is initially by choice, to bide time until something greater comes, a stepping stone. Somehow they then stay on that space, adding room to the stone slab, staying much longer than they should. Before they realize it, they are comfortable, inadvertently sitting on and hiding talents that were to be cultivated and multiplied. After so much time has passed, they may see the path before them as obsolete and irrelevant, and reduce the uses to those around them.  

In our own lives, there are often occurrences where we take a backseat or avoid what we are called  to do in exchange for survival.  We defer to others, we get used to the monotonous pattern we create for ourselves. But are we spiritually fulfilled? Are we increasing our growth and allowing our abilities to shine through?  Do we even know what it is we are to do, or are we believing it is just a hobby?

Respecting our calling, not putting our dreams on hold so that others may advance, is one of the reasons we're here. We want to pursue all that we are capable of, and even some of what we don't think we are. We want to use our talents to that they multiply. We want to be told ".... ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master. ’" (Matthew 25:21). For if we sit on them, hide them, remain in the shadows of others, those talents will be taken away or used to serve those we follow.

Consider, today, reconsidering our talents and how to they are being put to use. There is a special blessing in store when you do.