Everyone is a Gift but Not Everyone Is Gifted

Soon we will be leaving the term gifted in the garbage bin where it belongs.  However, before we do that, we have to tidy up some paperwork, if you will, regarding the oft heard arguments and discussions regarding highly abled people, including our favorite:  "Everyone is a Gift".

Yes.  There is no arguing that.  Everyone is a gift.  Everyone was created by God and has human worth.  The most incredible athlete in existence is not worth a brass farthing more than a crippled elderly person or a sick child or a "regular Joe".

Everyone is a gift.

However, NOT everyone is gifted.  Not everyone is highly able.  Not everyone needs to be. 

This takes thinking outside of the normal, societal "More=better" paradigm, so stick with me here...

We each, every one of us, have a specific purpose in life.  We have a specific role we are supposed to play in the Lord's universe.  Every person was given their own measure and number of abilities (and, consequently has their own weaknesses as well) that they would need to fulfill their own specific role.

Take Bob and Joe.  They both sing.

Bob has the voice of warm wood and honey--smooth, strong, rich.  On a measuring scale of singing, he has a 10 out of 10.  He also is a bit of a ham, a performer, and is incredibly gregarious--audiences love him and leave his concerts bubbling with laughter and energy.  He was raised in an urban area, born into a musical family, so his path was natural and right for his talents and abilities.  He quickly rises to the top of his music genre and his performances sell out. 

Joe has a nice, steady, pleasant voice.  He is always on key but perhaps does not have that extra kick of "something" that Bob has in his voice.  However, Joe also plays the guitar.  Joe is an introvert, an artistic guy.  His quiet demeanor is calming to those around him.  He was raised in a smaller town and is self taught, which brings that "down home", organic feel to his music. His life is not flashy, he works as a radiology tech at the local clinic, but that gives him much time to write original music.  He takes his voice, his music, his guitar, and his quiet disposition to retirement homes and hospital wards and soothes and delights the sick and the weary.  He is not high energy, which is perfect for his weaker audiences.  He will never make a million dollars singing for sick kids, but that is ok.  He will not die in obscurity because the Lord sees his work, just as the Lord does not look at Bob's bank account (which is admittedly hefty) but rather looks at Bob's heart and intent and what Bob has done with his fame and money.  Both men can do excellent work in the Lord or blow it completely--their choice.

Two men, both singers, but each was given a specific set of talents, circumstances, opportunities to glorify the Lord in specific ways--one with a loud, booming voice that reaches and energises millions, one with a much smaller, but much deeper role--giving comfort and being approachable and accessible.  He has the time to talk one on one with all of his fans, telling his story of redemption.  Bob cannot access all his fans, but his story is published in music magazines and that is how he spreads his story of redemption.

The key is not to try to have "the most" of one talent, but rather use to the fullest all the talents and abilities given.  It is still all about glorifying the Lord and doing the tasks that He set for us to do before the creation of the world.

Now, what this means is that not everyone is gifted.  Those who do not have a genius IQ do not need a genius IQ for the tasks the Lord has given them.  They are not "less than".

Those of us who do have a genius IQ, or are particularly highly abled, need their abilities for the tasks the Lord has for them.  The man who was given five talents to earn five more talents was not any more highly praised than the man who was given two talents to earn two more talents.  They both were given exactly what they needed to do with exactly what the Lord wanted them to do and were praised the exact same way as "good and faithful servants". (Matthew 25:14-30)

The abilities and lacks that I have are perfect for the role I am to play in the universe.  I can't sing, for example.  I am probably a 4 out of 10 on the singing scale--enough to warble in church without hurting anyone's ears (usually) but that's about it.  That is not a problem because I was never meant to be a singer. I wish I could sing.  I love to sing.But that is not the role the Lord has for me. 


Everyone is a gift, but not everyone is an Outlier.

Those with genius IQ's or who are highly talented do have specific needs and requirements to reach their full potential.  We, as a society, would not deny an opera singer training.  We would not deny a carpenter wood.  We would not deny a child with weak limbs braces for them.  We would not deny an Olympic-level gymnast a coach and floormats. The Outlier child needs specific tools to work to capacity.

So when we hear "Everyone is gifted" we say no.  Not to be jerks, but because the fact is that not everyone has the same needs for the roles that they are to play in their lives.  It dilutes the purpose and joy for every person to insist that they are all highly intelligent or incredible singers or wickedly fast sprinters.  The kid who is not an Outlier will soon be wearied if his parents push him into "gifted" programs, especially since the child was meant by God to, say, be an artist or a competitive swimmer or tinker in the garage as an an inventor. 

Bob's dad might have wanted him to pitch for the Yankees, but that was not where his talent was.  Joe's friends might have wanted him to audition for the lead in a musical, but that is not where his personality was.  We each must look at our basket of talents and abilities, shortcomings and weaknesses**, and the opportunities around us to do the most good with what we have, praying to the Lord that we see the opportunities He has for us then diving into them with excellence to the best of our abilities and being content with that.

**Not to bog down in the weeds, but this does not mean that we do not try new things or step out into nerve wracking situations.  Joe would have had to get the gumption up to play in public as an introvert and might feel weary after.  Bob might have to remember the spotlight is not always on him and need to let other people have their moments.  I discovered in my 30's that I have an uncanny ability in archery and spent the next few years teaching, competing, and working in an archery range.  So we must not stagnate, and I still want to take singing lessons, but the point is that we need to do what we can with everything we have for the glory of God.