Life can sometimes be so confusing, and not just to children who hear us say one thing and then we do just the opposite. Or we teach them something and then, before they have that down well, we come along and teach them something more. We teach them to print and now we want to quickly teach them cursive. They barely learn addition and we teach them subtraction.
That should not be surprising. That is what life is all about, from birth to death. The more that is given to us, the more is demanded of us. The more we are able to learn, the more we are asked and even demanded to learn, and then put what we have learned into practice and immediately. The more talents we possess, the more we are asked to demonstrate them.
But, then, is that not what talents, gifts, are for? Is that not why God blessed us with them, whatever they may be? They are given to be used, not to be buried in the ground or be saved for a rainy day or when absolutely needed. For if that is what we do with the talents and abilities God has given us, then when we need them, when we dig them up, they will be rusted and pitted and probably be useless.
Using, not burying, our talents is not a problem for most of us. Yes, publicly we may eat humble pie and “aw-shucks” it when others compliment us when we’ve done something praiseworthy; but deep down inside we know we did well. That’s not the problem. An egomaniac may be hard to live with. But if he’s honest and does well in what he brags about, well, at least he’s truthful if not irritating.
No, the problem is not with those who use their talents well. It is with those of us who don’t use them enough, with those of us who are satisfied with being okay and not the best. Being the best does not mean being better that everyone else. As much as I might want to be considered a great preacher (which I am not), I know there are many who are so much more talented and gifted than I. But then, there are those, in my humblest of opinions, who make me look like God’s gift to the pulpit. Enough already!
When our children were in school, we didn’t expect them to be the best. We hoped for the best and we expected them to do their best. And that is what God hopes for us and expects of us. And just as we helped our children if and when they needed our help in doing their best, so God helps us, God’s children, when we need God’s help in doing our best. That was our promise to our kids and God’s promise to us.
And that is what our faith is about: it is about us using the gifts and talents God has bestowed on us to the best of our ability knowing that God through the Holy Spirit will give us all the grace and strength we need to do so. All we have to do is use those gifts and cooperate with the Spirit. The question remains: am I? Are we?
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