How Are Your Gifts Being Used?
“Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run the race marked out for us.”
Hebrews 12:1, NIV
My love for running began in middle school when I was invited to try out for the track team. My physical education teacher noticed my gift as we warmed up for our early morning gym class. He was convinced I had the talent and encouraged me to meet up at the track after school. Meeting the coach and the other runners, I knew it was something I wanted to do. Despite my own self-doubt and perceived limitations, I was offered a position. No longer a party of “one,” I learned the value of being part of a team.
From those early formative years, I learned the importance of working together. Each member of the team had an important and crucial role. No one position was more important than another. As the coaches imparted their knowledge, our team began to take shape. Focused on the fundamentals, we grew stronger each day. Dependent on each other, we soon possessed a strength that was undeniable. In looking back, it was never about the winning or the losing. It was in the essence of being a part of a team.
As people of faith, we cannot find success on our own. Throughout our rich history, we have examples of men and women who worked together with one common focus. They were fearless and relentless in their pursuit of God. When faced with trials, they never lost sight of who they were and to whom they belonged.
In the book of Hebrews, it is clear early on that the author knows something about teamwork. As people of faith, we learn that it is not about individual achievement, but rather about community engagement and involvement. The discovery and exercising of one’s talents are simply the beginning. It is in bringing together those gifts that God’s kingdom will be manifested on earth.
How are your gifts being used at St. Martin’s? I have learned over the years that we cannot do the work of the Church without you and your gifts. We, as your Clergy, cannot do what we do without you. As we embark on a new year, I want you to consider your role and your willingness to use your gifts for the building up of your Church.
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…”
Hebrews 12:2, NIV
