Each One Unique

Today I am deeply grateful for Eric Wogen and all of our Guest Pastors who give so generously of their time behind the scenes to make Dial Hope a reality.

Paul Harvey once told the story of Joe. This was a guy who was born into a family of Sicilian immigrants, a family who had a 300-year history as fishermen. Joe’s dad was a fisherman. His brothers took up the trade and were fishermen too. But Joe the smell of raw fish and the motion of a rocking boat made Joe feel sick. In a family where the only acceptable way to earn a living was by fishing, Joe was a failure. His dad used to refer to his son as “good for nothing.”

Joe believed his dad, and for years he believed his attempts at other types of work were an admission of failure. However, Joe found that one thing he could do well, and that was to play baseball. When he was able to let go of what he could not do well, Joe DiMaggio moved to another field and became one of the great successes of baseball.

It is interesting to me how God created us. Each one of us with different gifts and talents. Sometimes we want to compare ourselves to others. And, when we do that we often find ourselves feeling inferior or “less than.” Or, maybe we feel slightly superior. Either way, it is not helpful.

I hope you don’t waste much time on comparisons. Instead, may you come to appreciate the unique gifts God has given you. May you find what it is you do well and enjoy it to the fullest.

Let us pray: Gracious God, you have created each one of us in your own image – yet each one unique. We have been blessed with our own set of skills and abilities – our own personalities and character traits. Help us to appreciate and enjoy who you made us to be. And, may we use our gifts and indeed our lives in a way that is pleasing to you. Amen.