Thursday, October 13, 2011

Ordinary People

Have you ever wondered why you're here, or what you have to contribute to the world (at least your corner of it), or if you're even special? If we're honest, I think we can all say we've asked that question at one time or another. I know I certainly have.  

Truthfully I can't think of how many times I've asked myself, or asked God, "What's my talent? What's my gift?" All I ever saw was just me. I can carry a tune, but not well enough to think of myself as having that talent. Do I enjoy singing? Absolutely. I have a hard time NOT singing, but is it a talent/gift, I really wouldn't say so. I enjoy "making a joyful noise." I'm not an artist. I can't draw or paint any better than or even as well as my 4 year old daughter, Alexa. Ha ha! And my photographs are just everyday run of the mill family pics that anyone could take. Nothing special about that. I just don't have an artistic eye. I'm definitely not academically gifted, and so on. For approximately the last 20 years I've been wondering and thinking about this question. I do believe that once we discover our gift or talent, we are responsible to use it in a manner that benefits or enriches the lives of others.

 Several years ago, sometime after I was married and before I had children, I received a piece of junk mail from some school I'd never heard of. It was a writing school, correspondence I guess. There was a test you could send for to have your writing evaluated to see whether or not you should consider taking their course. I figured there wasn't any harm in asking for the test, since it was free and I wasn't under any obligation to sign up for the course. So, as you've already guessed, I took the test and they recommended I take the course because they thought my writing was "good enough." I was excited to think that I was or could be a good writer. We didn't have the money for me to take the course, and I was fine with that. I was simply interested in their response.


Two days ago I decided to start a blog, simply to encourage myself to write, just for myself. That might seem selfish to someone, but it's not really. We all need to take time to do something just for ourselves once in a while. Unfortunately, I can never manage to get past the initial writing session. That is why I decided that using the computer would be a better medium for me. 


After I posted my first blog entry, I received comments and/or "likes" from the two or three people who read it. I even have two followers. How excited am I?!! Now I have to produce, right? Motivation! There was a comment from a friend and former co-worker that rocked my world. 

 "glad you're using your gift to write things personal to you, but shared by others... Kudos :)"

When I read that, I read it again. Did you catch it? She said GIFT. Talk about an aha moment! I hadn't thought about the question in months and suddenly the answer was right in front of me in black and white. I'm a writer. This may well be the only form of publishing my writing that I ever do and that's ok. The number of people who read my musings may be very small, but maybe one day something I write will lift someone's spirits or encourage them in some way.

Then this morning the thought occurred to me that God makes ordinary people. That in itself makes us extaordinary. When we allow Him to use our gifts, talents, or our most basic abilities to help or enrich the lives of others, we are being the best selves we were created to be. Then we are doing what we were meant to do, and making a difference in our own way. That is significant. That is why we were put on this earth. 

Suddenly the gift/talent question didn't seem so important anymore. Do what you love to do, use it to make others lives better if you can, and be the best you you can be in everything. Chances are you'll find the answer to the "question" somewhere along the way. The only thing you need to be the best at is being your best you. Whoa, that sounds corny! True though.

See you next time!

Little by little, step by step, I'm finding my way every day.


 

5 comments:

  1. Oh Kristi so excited for you! This is awesome I will stop by from time to time as another ordinary/extraordinary person because of God. Keep writing!

    Joanne

    PS have to find my account and sign in instead of John's

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  2. OK I now have a blog account and became a follower so i wont post as John now sorry about that

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  3. Great post Kristi. It's so weird because I came to the same sort of conclusion today..very coincidental. I've been feeling prettty lost, don't know where I should go to make me happy or what I should be doig, don't know what I shoudl focus on or take in school.. no idea what my talents are. But all of a sudden people are telling me they like my writing so..maybe I should focus on that a bit more. You never know. Great post. :)

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  4. So glad you're doing this. It can be a great outlet. I wish I posted more often then I do. Keep it up and I'll be checking in on you :)

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  5. Thanks for the comments everyone! It really is a great outlet and helps me think things through more clearly to have it in writing.

    Melissa, I was trying to find your blog and had to go quite a ways back on your FB page to find it. LOL! I could have just asked. Sometimes I worry about myself. :-P

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