JUST A TASTE

PRACTICE: Is there something that you like to do but don’t because you are not good at it?

I was talking to a new young friend about her gift with words. It was absolutely apparent to her parents that she is a natural wordsmith. After reading two pieces of her work, I, too, was convinced. Even though she loved writing and it was easy for her, my young friend was not convinced that she was good. Her words, “They are my parents; they are supposed to say that I am good.”

I asked her about other interest in her life and she made an interesting comment, “I love volleyball. At first I didn’t but began to love it when I got good at it.” This comment prompted me to ask, “are you hesitant about exploring writing because you don’t feel you are good at it - yet?” She replied, “Probably.” While she sat uncomfortably, I read aloud one of her pieces. I was uncomfortable because I am neither a professional writer nor a teacher. Her mother thought I was a good writer and more importantly believed that I could encourage her daughter.

She like many of us may be hesitant to embrace a gift if we haven’t had a taste of success with it. Gifts still need to be cultivated. If you were to read blogs that I wrote 4 years ago, you would quickly notice a difference in content, the configuration of words and sentence structure. Wherever I am today, required writing consistently and looking and listening with intention.

As we talked, she realized that writing like volleyball would require practice and time. It would require that she share her work with others. Validation from family is important but it is biased. A broader audience brings the potential for critical assessment.

A taste of success or the bitterness of failure can be the threshold to do more. Failure can create an itch that is only scratched with trying again.

My young friend wasn’t instantly good at volleyball. Sometimes I believe when we are good at something and then explore something else that takes effort, we forget the journey and remember only the destination of our success.

What I can confidently say is that others may see our gifts when we cannot. My experience helps me to know that I should not ignore their encouragement to explore them. You are reading this because I have had a small taste of success and want more.

What gift are you sitting on?

Psalm 46:5

PONDER THIS THOUGHT---To taste success or failure, an attempt is necessary.