Detecting your talent

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My husband and I have this ongoing "competition" when we watch a favorite police investigation show. Without any humility, I can honestly say that most often I can identify the culprit within the first minutes of the show.

Now that's not always true, but it often is. Happily, my husband is now catching on and has vastly improved his detective skills. 

I have to admit that identifying a criminal in a television show isn't actually a skill I can use very often at this point in my life (thank goodness!), but one of the detectives on the show does have a skill I wouldn't mind having to a greater degree--the gift of observation.

This particular detective notes all of the tiny, incidental things that help to make their case.

For me, the skill of observance would be a good one to perfect.

I've noticed that comedians like Jerry Seinfeld seem to have the gift of observance, but I have noticed that some comedians overuse their gift to the point of being critical. Of course, they do it in the interest of being funny and making a joke, but at times it comes across as being just plain mean. 

Ask most people and they don't recognize the gifts, or talents, God has given them. Our talents might be subtle, such as being a good listener, or being well-organized, but the truth is, each one of us has gifts that we can use to contribute to the mission of the Church.

It is important that we recognize what we do well. Genuine humility might keep us from ever thinking about our gifts, but acknowledging them is not a problem as long as we credit God for gifting them to us!

Actually, it can be false modesty to claim we don't have any talents; it can be a denial of God's generosity, and it can also be an excuse to just float along, claiming we have nothing to offer. 

I encourage you to spend some time today reflecting on what it is that you do well, and offer it back to God in whatever way he needs you to use it.

Pray for peace, joy, and an end to war.

Janet Cassidy
Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com

janetcassidy.com
https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/
https://www.youtube.com/@janetcassidy 



 

 

 

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