Snyder, George L Snyder, Lenore Snyder, God, ethics, morals, religion

The Elephant Speaks
One Man’s Elephant book II

Talents


            Most of those who are given great talents are also given great problems. Here are a few examples that I believe reinforce this statement. Look up each of these and study their lives.



Ludwig van Beethoven:

            He was given a great talent of music.

He was given migraines.

He was given seizures.

He was finally given deafness so he could not even hear his own work.

            and still he serves.



Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart:

            He was given a great talent of music.

He was given madness.

He was given alcoholism.

He was given too few years of life.

            and still he serves.



Albert Einstein:

            He was given a great ability to understand the universe.

            He was born a Jew. Only by leaving home could he avoid death.

            He was given Aspergers Syndrome. It devastated his personal life.

            and still he serves.


Stephen Hawking:

            He was given phenomenal intellect: To understand even more than Einstein.

He was given ALS.

Then he was put in a wheelchair.

Even his ability to speak was taken from him.

            and still he serves.





And God speaks to me:


          ‘I expect more from those to whom I give more. If you have great talents, gifts, skills, or power; I expect great things from you. Even if you have been given difficulties to overcome, you must. I expect more from those to whom I give more.





            There is a story of three servants who were given different values of talents. One of these did nothing with his talent.


            We are all given talents. These may be greater or less than what has been given to others. I guess in some very depressed areas of the world some are starving because they have received nothing. However, is it not a talent if the only thing you can do is to hold a child while she dies?


            I suppose it is the responsibility of the rest of us to aid them. But like most of us, I choose to ignore that responsibility, at least for now.



            Perhaps it is better to have a smaller talent. Then you might have an easier set of problems. But you are still required to use that talent. Exercise your ability. The one in the Bible story, that did not use his one talent, was condemned in the story. Do not be that person, no matter what!





And God speaks to me:


          ‘What you have is not yours. It is not given to you, but only loaned to you. When I bring it back to myself, you will be accountable. It is not yours. It belongs to the universe and is a responsibility, not a gift. It is not for your benefit, but for the benefit of all. You must return it to me well used and used well.





- Can you create music?

- Can you solve the mysteries of the universe?

- Can you help develop a new life saving medicine?

- Can you carve a toy from a piece of wood?

- Can you paint a beautiful painting?

- Can you tell a story?

- Can you govern with justice and integrity?

- Can you fix something broken?

- Can you comfort one in distress?

- Can you hand a crust of bread to one who is starving?


You do have some talent.


            Is to help one less fortunate one of the talents given you?


            Is to help and support those who are doing God’s work one of the talents given you?


            The greater the talent, the greater the obstacle. With great genius often comes great grief, pain, loneliness, even insanity. . . . . . . That does not diminish the responsibility. You must overcome the obstacles and exercise the talent.





            I feel that my talent is to write what I feel is important to me in my faith path. That is what I am doing here. I hope to hear God say to me, “Well done my good and faithful servant.





and God speaks to me,


            “Everything you have: money, power, position, talents; everything is on loan. It is not yours.











It is better to play a poor hand well

than to play a good hand poorly.






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