God in his Almightiness made every human unique in every sense. Man was created in the image and likeness of God with everyone wonderful and special. There is always a distinct trait which is in one that is not in another. That is why we have different approaches to issues. The way we laugh, walk, simile, teach, drive differ from one another. There is that unique way we handle issues that differ from that of others. The distinct but inherent qualities we possess are what make us special. In our family devotions one morning, I asked members of my household to name one thing they have that others do not have. One said “it is the unique way she laughs, another said it is the way he cracks jokes, the other said, I love taking care of children” and the matter went on like that. Two people among the rest said that they could not point out anything unique. It was actually the answer of the last two that motivated this piece because I believe that God created everyone with different potentials. It is left for the individual to discover his/her potential because it is when that is discovered that one can make a progressive future.
Being human, you need to ask yourself certain fundamental questions like I’who am I”? Which is self discovery. A good answer to this effect will reveal your true self. Discovery brings about recovery and in the realms of recovery we become all that we have been configured to be on Jhis earth. When we discover who we are, we begin to live and not just exist. There is a whole lot of space between living and existing. When you are alive, you have the potentials to contend with most life’s challenges. What it means is that you have the capacity of being comfortable, you can
fend for yourself without much assistance from another. Conversely, if you are existing you are merely hanging on the fence of life and you are prone to crashing any moment. You are merely existing; living a beggarly life.
Such a person depends on the good will of others to exist and when man is not forth coming, he suffers. Suffice it to say that such is not the will of God for man. God created man to subdue the earth and to increase and multiply in every facet of life.
Those who merely exist are those who do not know the winning nugget which is self discovery. Self discovery aids us to, overcome every feeling of pain, depression and frustration. We escape operating like shadows, carbon coping or existing as phantoms that lack coherence. You need to pause and answer this question. What have you? Yes! There is something you have which you have not yet discovered (Discovering your talent). Talents have been given to us all in different measures and until we discover the ones given to us, we may be swimming in life’s miserableness.
The parable of the three servants in the bible tells us the story of a certain rich man who when he wanted to embark on a long journey called his servants and put them in charge of his property. He gave them money to trade according to their abilities. To one he gave five thousand Gold coins, to another he gave two’ thousand and to the other, he gave one thousand Gold coins. The first two as soon as the man left, thought up
good business proposals. They followed things up and at the end made profits that were equivalents of what they were given. But the last man went and dug a hole and buried his money which is his talent. Hear him out “I know my master very well, He is a man who reaps where he has not sown.
I don’t want his wahala, so let me just bury his cash inside the ground, when he returns; I will dig it up and hand it to him whole and entire,” and he did just as he said.
After several years, the master came ‘back and demanded explanations on what they have done with the money (talents) given to them. The first two servants brought back the money with additional cash that was worth what was given to them. The master was glad and saidbecause you were faithful in discovering what to do with the money and was able to make profit as big as the actual money, take more and add to what you have. They rejoiced and went back to duty. The other remaining
servant narrated how he hid the money because he knew that the master was difficult to get along with. Hear him; “I was frightened by this trait of yours, so I kept your money safe for you”. The master became furious and told him “you lazy, good for nothing servant, you could have at least put my money in the bank so that I at least can earn intere~t” He collected the one thousand coins and handed over to the servant with ten thousand coins making the servants total cash to be Eleven thousand coins, and the other man went home full of regrets. That is what happens to anyone who has potentials or talents but does not put it to use, so you have to make haste and work hard so that you can discover your talents and as well put it into proper use.
That brings us to another level of how to use your talent. Discovering the method. Some people are wond,erful when they smile. I know of a Bishop’s wife who when she smiles, her smile is capable’ of disarming notorious thieves and kidnappers. Her smile is so contageous that when she smiles a poor man whose wife has put to bed Ten babies in one delivery, will be forced to smile. Through her smiles, she has been able to bring a lot of sinners to God’s house.
Several others have one talent or the other but they hid it or worst still use such for negativities. Have you noticed that when you sing people turn to your direction? In a place where there are about one hundred choir members, your voice stands out; you don’t need a soothsayer to let you know that you need to harness your voice. You should put your voice to 3 proper training and when you do, you may be surprised to realize that you may be the next p square or Onwenu that is about to be unveiled To another, when he talks he detonates an aroma of grace. He is graceful both in speech and looks. When such a person enters an environment of chaos, his words become a soothing balm to the rising situation. To such a person, I say “keep it up”. Look inward and you will discover that the words that come through your mouth are full of wisdom. As you continue in this positive trait, God will surely bring you to, sit before kings and not mean men.
My son, I have discovered is a wonderful artist. I came back about two days ago from work and he showed me a five star hotel, he drew with
different sections. In that drawing, he has space for Chinese Restaurant, swimming pool,$, for adult and children, suya bars and so on. The drawing looks so beautiful that even now I can’t but imagine that it is only a gifted child who can draw such works of art at such a tender age. I encouraged him to do more. That is it, you cannot give what you don’t have, you can only give out what you have. Don’t be like the lazy servant who dug a hole and buried the source of his livelihood. Stand up and look around, you will discover that specialty in you put it to use and the sky will not be high enough to limit you.
I have always advised the youths that if they can channel the energy they dissipate in perpetrating evil unto good works, success will smile their way. In the exam hall they can programme their telephone that it is easy to manipulate answers in the exam hall. Some have mastered the art of cheating both in the exam hall and outside that it is usually difficult to apprehend them. Others scheme and plan how to kidnap or murder another and they hatch the plan so perfectly that one wonders where the sense to do all those vices come from. If such, a people can re-discover themselves and know that every human being is here on earth to fulfill a purpose and that of the purpose is not just any purpose but such as was designed by God, then we will re-direct our steps unto righteousness.
We all have one specialty or the other. There is something that is in you which is not in another; you have to rise up and discover who you are and that should be right on time. Some have discovered themselves too late that when they look back they feel that they have wasted their years. But to such a person I want to say “don’t give up!”. There is a reason why the Igbo adage said that “Mgbe onye ji teta ura bu ututu ya,:’. The youths out there, you still have time, Rise up and discover who you are. When the discovery is made, hasten to put your talents into good and proper use and I bet you, you will be better for it in future.
To the adults, it is not yet “Uhuru”, you can still rise up and with the discovery you have made of who you are, you can put your talents into use, I tell you God Almighty will surely smile your way. As long as there is life there is hope. Stand up from your mess. Ask God for forgiveness and you can be sure that when God forgives he is no longer interested in your past. Move and look beyona your mistakes. You will see an olive branch which is a symbol of love and peace. Stretch your hand and receive a new positive era in your life. Get up beautiful one for it ·is the dawn of a new day for you
Lots of love
