I have always been envious and in great awe and admiration for people who have the talent for composing music, playing musical instruments with such ease, and making speeches with such aplomb. I always thought that they are so lucky, God gave them great gifts.
I always felt that I have no gifts.
Organizational Skills
Then I recalled that I am often landed with organizing activities. Sometimes I felt resentful. It is so easy to organize a meal, or a concert get together, or a walk, in this socially connected age with WhatsApp group chats. Are people lazy or disinterested?
One day I stumbled upon a revelation. I realized that I actually enjoy, and find it easy to organize group activities for friends. Maybe others don’t. From that day onward, I no longer felt resentful. I finally realized that God had given me a little gift, the gift of organizing.
However, we must not “bury the talent”, as in the biblical parable. We have to develop it, so it becomes a skill.
Genius is 1% Talent
That is what those great composers, musicians and orators do! Having realized they can say, play an instrument without much effort, they take lessons, practice and practice until they become very skilled. To others, it seems as though the skill came easily, but we do not see the sweat and tears involved. As Albert Einstein said, genius is 1% talent and 99% hard work.
My Little Gifts
Having made my discovery of “little gifts”, I figured out what other things I find easy to do and that I enjoy doing. So far, I have identified writing, singing, color coordinating outfits, and mixing and matching outfits and accessories, using whatever I have in my wardrobe.
When you don’t have a “gift” for an activity, you can worktop hard at it, and be competent but not excellent the way the “gifted” person comes across. Many people have jobs or careers that reflect their gifts. Those who are good with their hands often choose technical jobs, doctors good with hands become surgeons.
Little Gifts can become Great Talents
I encourage you to reflect on your own skills and activities, and discover your God-given gifts, if you have not identified them yet. You actually enjoy the activity. If you develop your skill in it by repeated practice, you actually become pretty good at it. You will be surprised at how gifted you are. You become a genius by mastering the activity you love the most.
Read Have You Reached Your Flow State?
Besides, God is not likely to give you more gifts, unless you prove that you have done well with what you already have.
Use what talents you possess;
The woods would be very silent
If no birds sang there
Except those who sang the best.
(Henry Van Dyke)
lingsinglin
Dr Ling Sing Lin is a medical doctor by training. She worked in MOH HQ for many years, in policy making and administrative positions, until her retirement.
