08_19_2020

Putting Our Gifts to Good Use

                Recently several components of my research and work have led me to writings that talk about the importance of each of us putting our gifts to good use.  I have Sarah Ban Breathnach’s book, Simple Abundance: 365 Days to a Balanced and Joyful Life on my coffee table.  Most days I read the entry for the day, and I find myself thinking about the topic throughout part of the day.

The theme for August focuses on acknowledging our own gifts and learning to honor and use them as a way of transforming our own lives and the lives of others.  The entry for August 8 focused on insights offered by Elizabeth O’ Connor:  “Because our gifts carry us out into the world and make us participants in life, the uncovering of them is one of the most important tasks confronting any one of us.”

I am repeatedly surprised how synchronicity works my life, for around the same time, I came across an offering from  Dawna Markova that spoke to the same topic.

“ Each of us is a miracle of uniqueness.  Each of us, therefore, is responsible for the discovery of our sustaining passions and rhythms, the cultivation of the green fields in which we can discover what keeps us connected to the full fertility of our soul and all it has to give to the world.”   

                 John O’Donohue  offers his belief that each of us is chosen to fulfill a specific role to complete as part of our lives on earth.   In his words,

“To be born is to be chosen.  None of us is accidentally in the world.  We are sent here because there is something special for each of us to do here that could not be done by someone else.  One of the wisdoms of leading a full life is to try and sense what it is you were sent her for and to try and let the hindrances that block you from that fall away so that you can claim completely the life that was so generously offered to you….When we come into the eternal world, we won’t so much be checked for our failures, but we will be asked whether we honored the possibilities that were placed inside us when we were so carefully fashioned out of the clay…..We were sent here to search for the light of Easter in our hearts, and when we find it we are meant to give it away generously.” 

Most of us probably have an easier time accepting that we have been blessed with unique gifts than accepting that “we are sent here because there is something special  for us to do in this life.”   Personally, I am comfortable with each person holding their own beliefs about why we are put on this earth, but I am hoping I can persuade readers to think about the importance of each of us claiming and learning to use our gifts.

In a class that I am facilitating, we are discussing and reflecting on issues that can help us become more intentional on how we use our time on earth.  Most of us are searching for meaning and purpose in our lives.  The current Pandemic is certainly disrupting our lives, and there will be many opportunities for those of us so inclined to figure out how we can use our gifts to help rebuild toward a more just and compassionate society.

The work begins with naming or claiming our gifts, which for some can be a challenge as it might feel contradictory to the messages we received as children  regarding the sin of pride.  But it is not a sin to own your talents; it is part of the uniqueness of each of us.  We can claim our gifts and still practice humility, particularly when we are willing to share our talents in promoting good causes and helping others.

In the class, everyone had a week to think about and claim at least one gift she possessed.  The class did a great job, and people seemed comfortable naming their gifts.  And I think the group felt that each selection was authentic, and we could all see the value of each gift.

Dawna Markova reminds us how much “givers” benefit from sharing their gifts.

“Each of us is here to give something that only we can offer, and when we avoid knowing ourselves, we end up living numb, passionless lives, disconnected from our soul’s true purpose.  But when you have the courage to shape your life from the essence of who you are, you ignite becoming truly alive.”

I am preparing a sermon that I will be giving on Labor Day weekend, the title of which is  Listening to Our Souls Speak.  I organized my remarks around the concept of “soul,’ as I believe that rebuilding from the destruction of the Pandemic offers us the incredible opportunity to address some of the issues that don’t conform to the vision in our Declaration of Independence, “…the inalienable rights that include: the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Our souls serve as our spiritual GPS systems, offering us a way of getting in touch with our better angels.

James Hillman noted in The Soul’s Code: In Search of Character and Calling that “our souls are called to use our gifts as we seek and enjoy a more meaningful life.”  Any number of columnists and religious, thoughtful leaders are reminding us that there is both a social dimension as well as a spiritual dimension to our current crisis.

To respond to both, I believe that we need to make time in our lives to reflect on our gifts, and to think of ways that we can offer those gifts as we work toward becoming more whole as we make our way to the other side of the Pandemic.

Namaste!

“We can’t take any credit for our gifts and talents.  It is how we use them that counts.”  Madeleine Engle