embracing giftedness

“The more full of promise a life is, the more apt it is to evoke uncomfortable response in others.”[i]   The author of this statement is discussing the damage jealousy and envy bring to community.  I can attest to that.  When I encounter giftedness, I immediately begin looking for flaws so I can more easily dismiss the giftedness as ordinariness, thus elevating my view of myself and leveling the playing field. But then, I can’t allow myself to be gifted, either.  I belittle or hide any talents I have, too.  If I don’t do it myself, someone else might do it for me, and I want to beat them to the punch.

I want to be able to not only let others be gifted, but support and encourage their gifts – and my own, in the process.  The question is, how?  What does that process look like?  I can imagine external behaviors that support and encourage.  But how does soul change take place?  How do I convince my heart to be more supportive and encouraging at first take?  How do I come to a place where my auto-response is immediately positive – without the preliminary struggle with jealousy?  Is it all about not seeing others as a threat?  About being secure in and content with the purpose for which God has designed me?  So much so, that I can enjoy others living out their design? 

Although the context has a different slant, I am reminded of Paul’s words, “Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?  Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?”[ii]  Paul also talks about Pharaoh having purpose: “Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.”[iii]  And of course, he also states, “We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works….”[iv]

I feel sorry for people who think we are all accidents of nature.  It means none of us have any intentional design, and consequently neither do we have any purpose other than that for which we mold ourselves.  And it would seem the result of “natural selection” and “survival of the fittest” would be that jealousy and envy would be a necessary part of our survival.  Isn’t it interesting that God’s methods are exactly opposite the approaches to which we naturally default?

Maybe if I got a better vision of you, and the fact that I am here for you, and others are here for you – rather than the other way around – it would free me to allow us all to fully be all you have designed us to be – without envy or jealousy.

“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power:  for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”[v]

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[i] Eighth Day of Creation, Elizabeth O’Connor, Potters House Book Service, 1971, p.34

[ii] Romans 9:20-21

[iii] Romans 9:17

[iv] Ephesians 2:10

[v] Revelation 4:11