Talent: the Left Handed Gift

The basic part of a journey called a step. Each step has two measurable components: direction and speed. Of these two, direction is the more important; direction is set first and then speed is added based on the situation presented. Going the right direction slowly is better than arriving at the wrong place quickly.

A journey also has an emotional component as well. Desire influences the beginning of the journey, its speed and direction, and usually its outcome. Desire determines how obstacles such as physical limitations and lack of resources will be overcome.

The steps of a journey should be put in the order of desire first, then direction, and finally speed, but it is surprisingly easy to reverse the order. How often do we start out with a half-baked idea of “doing some great plan of improvement,” having only a vague idea of the direction to take, and beginning with a jackrabbit start?

During my career as a teacher, I met lots of people, both children and adults, who seemed to have a natural talent for accomplishment. Everything seemed easy for them. They got good grades or were proficient at sports or other endeavors with out much effort on their part.

Most call that kind of talent a gift, but if it is, it is what I call a “left-handed gift.” That’s a gift that, when you are focused on taking it out of the giver’s left hand, he’s about to clobber you with his right.

The problem with natural talent is that it will only take one so far. That’s the place where the work (the stuff others have to do to be proficient) really starts. Talented individuals are so used to finding things easy, they often become frustrated and switch to some other field where they can still be “good” without much effort.

Desire, like natural talent, will only take us so far on our journey. Speed and direction begin to follow the path of least resistance, and eventually we abandon that work and start another. And another. Our abandoned efforts become like a list of failures, and we often become proficient only at making excuses and playing “could-a, would-a should-a.”

If we find ourselves in this place, one strategy to use is forgiveness. That’s right; we must admit our failings and forgive ourselves for the part we have played in the life we’ve created. After all, we weren’t trying to make “mistakes.” We made those choices based on the information we had at the time. We may now have better information and more experience, so learn to leave the past (passed?) behind. Another term some people might find more useful than forgiveness is self-acceptance.

So if the first step is setting direction, how can one start? After truly forgiving/accepting our selves, we can begin the process of sorting out priorities. Once someone asked what I wanted written on my tombstone. I thought that somewhat macabre until I realized that I was being asked to tell how I wanted to be remembered. Forever. What did my life stand for? In short, what are my priorities?

Some of the best information about priority setting I ever heard is posted on a website of mine: www.pastorjerrylive.org under the “Encouragement” tab. The third entry down is called “Priorities”, and it can absolutely change your life; go check it out.

A life direction is just a priority on a larger scale. Pick one thing, and do it with your whole heart. Leave other things behind. It’s do or die now. The word decision is a medical term, and it means to “cut off.” There’s no going back now.

If you have natural talent, thank God for the headstart, but don’t make a habit out of relying on it.  Work is the true bridge between talent and achievement.

Blessings, Jerry.