I’ll never win American Idol, or Dancing with the Stars. I can’t twirl a fire baton, tap dance or ballet dance, for that matter. You’ll never see me on America’s Got Talent, the Miss America pageant, or any other stage performing any other sort of stage-type talent. I just don’t have any.
In fact, many of us don’t. And many of us feel that because of this, we aren’t talented. We beat ourselves up, wondering why were weren’t one of the chosen. We sit in sacrament meeting, listening to Sister Jones warble out a beautiful hymn with her perfect contralto, and we wonder why some people were so blessed in the talent department while we’re sitting in the back of the chapel with Cheerios smeared on our clothes, feeling about two inches tall.
We are taught in the scriptures that every one of us has been given a spiritual gift. Some are a little more “showy” than others that may be considered more “quiet.” This ties in perfectly to our talents. To some it is given to sing like an opera star, while to others, it is given the ability to appreciate the music being sung. I can’t dance, at all, but I love to watch dancing and I can even distinguish between good dancing and bad dancing. I know what comprises the art and how it should look, even though I can’t do it myself.
Where would we be in this world without those people who are talented in compassion, communication, honesty, service, love, diligence, endurance? What if my talent is to work behind the scenes, to support those in the front, so that the overall effect carries the greatest punch?
We have no reason to feel down on ourselves because we can’t get up on a stage and perform our talents. That would be an interesting sort of talent show – “Tristi will now demonstrate how she edits a book.” There I would be, hunkered down over a computer, for hours at a time while the audience falls asleep. Very entertaining. But who says that every talent we possess has to be stage-appropriate? I think that many of the most wonderful talents of all are those you never could properly demonstrate on a stage.
The next time Brother Green is serenading the assembly with a beautiful rendition of “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” on his cello, don’t feel bad that you can’t do that. Instead, think about your own talents. Be grateful that you have the education to not only recognize the music, but to know the composer. Or that you made the dress your daughter is wearing. Or that your family will eat a wonderful Sunday dinner, created with your own hands. If the entire world was comprised of master cellists, how boring would that be?
If you’re struggling to identify your talents, turn to your patriarchal blessing. Ask people who know you well, and write down everything they say. You will be amazed at all the talents that reside in just one person, you. You incredible person, you!
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