Today’s Word from Deacon Amy…
After Easter Sunday, I took the week off. My family and I contemplated going somewhere for a few days, but we decided to stay on the island, get a few things done around the farm, and enjoy our time together. My parents came up to visit for the week, too.
I may not have gotten as much of my “to do” list checked off as I would have liked, but I truly enjoyed my time. My mom and I took my daughters to the new Price Sculpture Park in Coupeville on Monday; what a delightful stroll through the woods. It was a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the vision and creativity of some fantastic artists in our community. We got to enjoy the natural beauty of the area combined with the artistic beauty of the sculptures. I highly recommend it.
I like to say that I am a fan of talent. Some of the sculptures were a little too abstract for my taste, but I was still in awe of the creativity and artistic ability of the sculptors. I feel the same way with paintings, music, and other artforms; I may not feel particularly moved by a certain piece, but I always admire the talent of the artist.
Perhaps this is why 1 Corinthians 12 always speaks to me:
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.
God, the most creative of all, has gifted each and every one of us with specific talents and abilities. If you were to give me a blank canvas and a paint brush, I assure you that the outcome would be something that no one would want to hang on a wall anywhere, but I know that I have other gifts. Some of us are artists, some are teachers, some are mechanically inclined, some are scientists and healers, and others are friends and caregivers.
We all get to choose how we use the gifts and skills that God has given to us. We all have the opportunity to use our talents to better the lives of our neighbors. What can you do today to bring a smile to someone’s face? Some of you may be able to create beautiful sculptures to display along a trail in the forest; others will be better able to share a batch of homemade cookies, write a lovely note, or pick up some groceries. I encourage you to explore your talents, and use them to brighten someone’s day.
Deacon Amy
