The Gift That Is in Thee

1 Timothy 4:14-16

14. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

15. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

16. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

 

Neglect not the gift that is in thee.

Within me is a gift.  Carefully and intricately wrapped in the finest of earthly matter: white bone, red woven and braided tissues, delicate skin.  The gift came from the Giver, who placed it so well in the package of His own crafting that the two became one, as petals and center become flower.  So am I.  Yet, like a flower, I can fail in my opening and reveal not the fullness of myself.  I can wither and die in the bud – not because of years I have not lived, but because of years I have not lived well.  I must be true to the wholeness of myself and give myself wholly to the things that nurture and reveal the gift within.

 

The gift is not my own alone to delight in, selfishly.  It was not given in order to begin and end with my own mortal life span or to remain confined in my own limited space.  Ceaseless and boundless is the gift when it is loved truly and opened fully to love – when I heed my true self and the truth of living that the Giver has given, by loving purely and freely as He first loved me.  To have been given this gift is a great honor and privilege, so much so that the angels and archangels bow down before me… Yet, what do I do?  What do I do with such a treasure, with such a rare and sacred jewel?  I squander it on the finite and fleeting – I do not give.  For it is only in being true to the gift within me and true to the Giver who has so entrusted me that I will know fulfillment and salvation and be lifted up with those with whom I have shared the gift.
 

I’m afraid I do neglect.  When I am quiet, still and serious, my greatest fear is that I will waste the beauty that is me… That I will fail utterly in becoming who I was created to be, in fulfilling my potential, in opening up my gift and sharing it with the world.  Will it die in me?  This wondrous talent which God has implanted in me – for God has implanted wondrous talent in each and every one of us, for we humans truly are fearfully and wonderfully made – will I reck it completely?  I want to give and I want to live fully, truly, deeply and well.  There is a shining soul, radiant in all beautiful light and goodness, resplendent and amazing; this is how God knows me, and God knows how I can fulfill this destiny – but, will I heed?  Will I meditate upon these things and give myself wholly?

 

– And who is it that is listening?  Does anyone hear me?  Yes… the answer is yes… the Listening One always hears…

Christina Chase