Do You Have A Gift?

A while ago I was looking at a movie starring Morgan Freeman and his character said something quite interesting about using your gift. To paraphrase he said you may never find your gift, but that doesn't mean you can't be great at something. I've always felt everyone has a gift, but is that true? And, if it's true, is it easier to find a needle in a haystack?

Then the baddest entertainer ever, MJ, passes away and I started rethinking the whole gift thing. MJ found his gift early--he probably came out of the womb singing--and he was GREAT, if not LEGENDARY, by age 10. The Jackson 5 was the first of the Motown groups to have four number one hits in one year back in '69. Then he goes on to sell God knows how many copies of Thriller. MJ was one of those lucky few who found his gift right from the start!

Tiger Woods is another rare bird. As a kid he watched his father swinging a golf club and by age 2 he was on TV showing off. As a teenager he wins the U.S. Junior National Championship three years in a row--then the U.S. Amateur tournament three years in a row--now he's on the verge of being the greatest golfer ever. What a life!

Getting back to Morgan Freeman, you may never find your gift, but can you develop a skill which can take you to unprecendented heights of personal achievement? I know you can. Personally, I think I've found my gift and I feel fortunate enough to have uncoverd it at 40-plus years of age. I wish I got it right out of the womb--oh well, stuff happens! I love to write, I love public speaking and I've always felt there was something different, unique and/or intriguing about how I view life, love and the pursuit of happiness. My mission is to share my views so all of us can be a little more successful. I didn't have this mission from the very beginning, but I guess you don't see too many writers or public speakers getting down at age 2 or 3 either.

Then, on the other hand, maybe I'm totally off base. Maybe writing or public speaking isn't really my gift at all. Maybe it's just a developed skill. Maybe I'm much better suited to be the GREATEST IN THE WORLD at something altogether different. Whatever that something altogether different may be I'm completely oblivious to it at this point in time, so I'll just keep on doin' what I'm doin'--while enjoying the process and the reward!

So there are two missions I have for you. First, just be doggone good at something! Use your gift or nurture a skill, whatever you gotta do. There's no doubt the Creator gave you something to work with, so please don't waste it and wander around aimlessly lamenting the day you were born. It doesn't matter what that something is as long as it's legal, moral and ya ain't hurtin' nobody. It may be physical or it may be mental, but whatever it is, just Do It 'Til You're Satisfied (BT Express was da bomb!)

Second, let's help our kids find their gifts or develop their skills, preferably at an early age. Wouldn't it be oh, so cool to uncover your kid's gift at age 2 or 3? Something that your kid loves to do and all you have to do is point him or her in the right direction? Imagine how many problems you may circumvent. Imagine how much joy he or she could spread. And who knows, if the stars line up correctly, maybe he or she will be the GREATEST IN THE WORLD at something! At the very least maybe you'll get a college scholarship out of it! But, the most important task would be to keep your kid grounded spiritually. That's a tough one, so we'll save that for our next discussion. But, for right now, let's make it happen!

Copyright by Kirk Charles, 2009. Redistribution or reprinting of any kind, in any type of media, without the prior written authorization of Kirk Charles is strictly prohibited.