I met with a fitness guru recently at the gym I had joined
some time ago. One visit in the past
year provided little return on my money so I opted to get a little help in the motivation department. The trainer
told me that my fat percentage was 32% and considered in the danger zone. That definitely
got my attention. She lectured with
authority, tossing her blonde head from side to side as she spoke. And then this Barbie Doll further convinced me with the story of some poor soul who had worked
out faithfully in the gym but never correctly. The wrap up: Once she entered his life,
fitness took hold, the pounds fell off and he lived happily ever after.
But when the price tag attached to her little miracle making was revealed, I slumped away sadly like the rich young ruler who had been told he had to sell all he had. In fact, not only did I not hire her, but I did nothing. Absolutely nothing. I was so afraid that I would be that poor failure of a soul who worked out incorrectly for the world to see, that I stayed away.
Fitness is not my only dog in the fight. Over the recent past, I have been on a hiatus from writing. Suddenly, it seemed like all the Barbie Doll writers were everywhere and I was the poor fool doing the writing exercises but doing them all wrong. Comparison released its poison. I was back at that all or nothing point, allowing myself to buy the lie that if I am not the best, I need not apply.
Author Emily P Freeman says that admitting someone else could likely do it better (and probably has done it better) is freeing in itself since it takes us out of the competition mode.
Really, it’s not a matter of how many talents we have anyway but what we do with what we have. Will we bury or invest? Will we risk the opinion of the masses and even our own insecurity for the good of the returning Master? Whether it is the body or our words, the precept is good stewardship.
Whatever there is - little or much - don't dig down but dig in. And offer it UP.
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This is such a good reminder, Barb. I tend to be an all or nothing person, too. It shows a lot in my home, but sometimes in my friendship or creativity or in other areas. I love the idea of good stewardship here. There are so many authors whose words inspire and I can't stand the thought of them wanting to keep their words to themselves in "overhumility." It's a disservice to us all when a person shies away from their gifting out of fear of not doing it well enough. Funny thing is, we get better the more we exercise it anyway. Great tie in of the parable!
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