The Seed of Hope

Where Talent meets Change

We’re all born with talents, or natural abilities. Our talents manifest themselves in a variety of ways. Musicians, actors, vocalists, and poets are among those with talents in the arts. Physicians, surgeons, and nurses possess a talent for healing or care giving. Scientists and inventors have a gift for discovery. Architects and engineers are changing the face of our world every day. Computer gurus are introducing new technologies faster than we can implement them!  The list of talents possessed by individuals goes on and on. An attempt at recounting all of these abilities would surely result in my omission of one or more, which would result in someone being offended, so I won’t even try. I think you get the point: We all have unique abilities.

Some of us (child prodigies) recognize these talents at a very early age. Some of us recognize our talents during our formative teen years, or even during our adult life. Sadly enough, there are those that never recognize their abilities, never recognize those gifts that they possess when they come into this world. What a shame. What a loss, for these individuals. What a loss for all of us.

Even more tragic are those of us who recognize our talents, but never use them. Why does this happen? Why would someone not use a talent, a gift, an ability, that would serve to make his life better?

The answer lies in what I like to call the ‘intersection’ of talent and change.

Picture if you will, Talent Street. Talent Street is a quiet, tree shaded, two-lane street; what you might find in an established, well-kept neighborhood. There are no turns, ‘blind spots’, or obstacles. In fact, you can stand at one end of Talent Street and see as far as your eyes are able. Any destination that you have is clearly defined and easily reached.

Now imagine this: Talent Street represents the path of your life. It is the path that you believe is yours to take, to be who you are supposed to be, to do whatever in life that you are supposed to do. The path begins where you are standing at this moment. Your destination is the other end of Talent Street. Your ‘purpose in life’ can be seen as traveling from one end of Talent Street to the other, using the gifts that you have been given. All things considered, this should be a walk in the park, right?

Well, as with most things that are too good to be true, there’s a catch: You see, to get from one end of Talent Street to the other, you must cross Change Avenue. Change Avenue is four lanes wide and filled with bumper-to-bumper traffic traveling at unbelievable speeds. The mere thought of crossing this road strikes fear in the hardiest of souls!

Lets’ take a moment to talk about this traffic on Change Avenue: better yet, let’s put this analogy aside for a moment. I want to focus on the real world, and the obstacles that we encounter attempting to move forward in life; the mental challenges that we face every day in trying to live out our life’s purpose.

Think about the sparkle that you see when you look into the eyes of a healthy infant, or a toddler’s smile that lights up a room, or the look of innocence on the face of a four year old. Do you know what that is?

That sparkle, that smile, that look of innocence is absolute, unadulterated joy. Each may rekindle feelings in us that we had long ago, feelings that we’ve lost along the way, feelings that we’d love to experience at least one more time. Some of us would give anything to share even a bit of that joy.

So why are these little ones so happy?

They don’t know any better!

You see, when we’re born, we don’t know anger, aggression, or hatred. We don’t know doubt, fear, or limitations. We don’t know unworthiness, guilt, or envy. We don’t know ‘not being good enough’. We don’t know that we can say the wrong thing; give the wrong answer to a question. We don’t know prejudice. We don’t know any negative emotion! All we feel when we enter this world is happiness; all we know is love.

So what goes wrong? How do we go from happiness and love to how we are? What happens to us?

People!

People happen to us! People that love us. People that hate us. People that want to help us. People that want to hold us back. People that don’t even know us.

Who are these people? Parents. Siblings. Friends. Educators. Guidance counselors. Competitors. Strangers.

It’s easy to understand why competitors and strangers would try to retard our growth: they want what we have. Either they don’t have enough of it, or they don’t have it at all. Perhaps they don’t have the ambition to get it, or they don’t have the ability to get it. Maybe they don’t feel that they are worthy of it. Some may think that it is only reserved for others.

So exactly what is this it, and why is it missing in their lives? Perhaps of more importance is why it may be missing from your life?

It, quite simply, may be defined as something that you’ve wanted in life but never had. It may be something tangible, like a new sports car, a fancy home, a boat, or a huge sum of money in the bank. It may be an intangible, like confidence, self esteem, love, hope, or peace of mind. Each of us has our own it, or better yet, a list of its.

I’ll remind you that the name of this site is The Seed of Hope. My aim is to plant a positive seed of hope in you that will replace the negative seeds that have been sown in your mind since birth. Seeds like:

“What made you think you could do that? You’re not good enough. I think you should choose a career for which you are more suited. Are you out of your mind? You have got to be kidding me! You’re wasting your time. Why can’t you be like your sister? What on earth were you thinking?”

All of the above question our abilities, set limitations, and plant seeds of doubt that we carry for the rest of our lives! These doubts become mental barriers that keep us from believing that we’re good enough, that we have the abilities, that, well, that we can do anything! We already have what we need to cross Change Avenue; we just don’t know it!

How do we do this? How do we undo what has been done? How do we unlearn what we believe to be true? How do we uproot all that is keeping us from moving forward, and in turn sow the seeds for a new life?

Commitment.

Make a commitment to yourself to use the natural gifts and abilities you’ve been given to move forward in life. I don’t mean a promise, a pledge, or even an oath. I’m talking about an absolute, know-it-in-your-soul, unwavering, unbending, never gonna quit commitment to yourself. Make this commitment as though your life depended on it. If you’ve never known happiness, contentment, or satisfaction, maybe your life does depend on it. Think about this for a moment; there’s a chance that the only thing standing between you and the life you want to live is your commitment to make it happen!

Ask for help.

If you walk with faith, turn to that faith for the strength and wisdom that you will need on your journey. Hold tight to the belief that with God, all things are possible. Don’t be afraid to tell God what you’d like to have in your life, and don’t be afraid to ask Him to help you along the way. It is God’s will for us to live in abundance (remember that abundance comes in many forms); if what you are seeking is pure and just, He may be waiting for you to simply ask.

If faith is absent in your life, turn to a trusted friend, someone with whom you feel comfortable in sharing. Seek the help of your spouse or partner; make them aware of your intentions. People that love and care for you will help you any way they can to live a better life. Do not let your pride stand between you and happiness; ask for help.

Look inwardly.

Channel all the energy and strength that you’ve used for years to survive in this world, and use it instead to make your world what you want it to be. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and make that unwavering commitment to cross Change Avenue. Know going in that it won’t be easy. There will be challenges at every turn; life is that way.  Do not, even for a minute, take your eyes off of your ultimate destination: the end of Talent Street.

There awaits your “purpose”. There awaits a sense of fulfillment, and a feeling greater than anything that you have ever known.

There, at the end of Talent Street, awaits your destiny.

Contact me: sam@theseedofhope.com

The List

There’s something that I’m going to ask you to do for the New Year. Let’s call it a New Years Resolution, but it’s probably unlike any resolution you’ve ever made, in that it doesn’t take a great deal of effort, and will only take you a few hours to complete. And as with everything that I’ve asked of you to date, this is for your benefit, not mine.

If you’ll do this with an open mind, and a contrite heart, I suspect that it may be one of the most liberating and soul-cleansing experiences of your life. It certainly was for me two years ago.

Here’s what I’d like for you to do:

You’ll need to be alone (that’s a tall order for some of us), in a quiet environment. Grab a pen and paper, and if you have a favorite chair, at your desk, your kitchen table, or in your den, head for it and get comfortable. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths, clearing your mind of as much clutter as possible.

I want you to imagine a large wooden crate, complete with a lid and lock. The crate sits open and empty, upon a table top, waiting to be filled.

Next I want you to visualize a set of shelves that is lined with several jars, much like a large spice rack. Each of these jars has been labeled, and I want you to scan the shelves looking for a list of ingredients. You’ll spot some of the ingredients rather quickly; others may take a bit of searching. There’s no hurry; take your time. As you take each item off of the shelf, place it in the empty crate. This is what you’re looking for:

Pride. Ego. Envy. Jealousy. Anger. Hatred. Revenge. Resentment. Prejudice. Greed.

Take each of these jars off the shelf, and place them in the crate. Go ahead, put them all in there. Now close the lid and fasten the lock! Don’t worry, I’m not asking you to lock these up forever; at least not yet. Just put them away, will you?

Now take a look at what remains on your shelves:

Love. Compassion. Humility. Gratitude. Sharing. Peace. Forgiveness.

The List

Pick up your pen, and, holding these qualities in your mind’s eye and in your heart, I want you to make a list of every person that you feel has hurt you in any way, be it in thought, word, or deed. Start with your earliest memory as a child and move forward through the years. Remember that this list isn’t based on the seriousness of the offense, but on the offense itself, large or small. Don’t let guilt, shame, or any other emotion deter you from adding a name to the list (I was a bit shocked when I wrote the names of my parents on mine). This list is for no one’s eyes other than your own. Take your time composing your “honor role”, being as thorough as possible in your recollection of those who have caused you to hurt in any way.

When you’ve scoured even the darkest recesses of your mind, put the pen down, turn the paper over, and take a moment to gather your thoughts and to recover from “uncovering” old wounds.

Now get a fresh sheet of paper, pick up your pen, and once again, holding those good “ingredients” in your mind, I want you to make a list of every person that you may have hurt, using the same recollection and selection process that you used before; if you feel that you hurt someone in thought, word, or deed, in any way, at any time, add the name to your list (my parents were on that list too). Again, this list is for no eyes other than your own. And again, take your time; in this case it is better to be thorough than to be swift.

As before, when you’re finished, put down the pen, turn the paper over, close your eyes, and gather your thoughts.

Now go back to the first list; the list of people that have offended you in any way. Look at the first name, picture that person’s face in your mind, and forgive that person for what he or she did to you. Make it personal, and make it sincere. I’ll share a couple of mine with you: “Phyllis, I forgive you for saying that my ears looked like Dumbo’s when we were in grade school.” Or “Cheryl, I forgive you for stripping me of what little self-esteem I had when I was in my 20’s.” Let it out. Let it hurt. Let it go. Each person. Skip none. Say it from your heart. Release them.

Go back to the second list; those that you may have hurt. Once again, look at the name and see the face. This time, ask for forgiveness. “Dad, I’m sorry that I cursed at you.” “Brian. Christian. I’m sorry if I ever let you down in any way.” “Jackie, I’m sorry about the short fuse.” Swallow your pride. Admit that you wronged someone. Ask for their forgiveness; from your heart. Ask to be released.

That’s it. You’re through. Finished. This exercise is over. Feel any better? Maybe a little, but not that much? That’s okay.

Wait until tomorrow morning, when you wake up to start a new day, and you realize that something has changed. You’re not quite sure what it is, but you know that, deep down inside, something is different. What is it?

I’ll tell you what it is:

What you are feeling is a heart that, for the first time in years, perhaps ever, is no longer burdened by the pain of being hurt, or the guilt of causing pain. And here’s the really good part: It only gets better! With each passing day that hurt and guilt becomes less and less significant, until one day, they’re just gone. It’s healing. It’s cleansing. It’s liberating. It’s awesome. It’s a blessing.

One last thought:

When I sat down to make my list, I suspect that I was as skeptical about its effectiveness as you may be right now. Trust me on this one. Being able to walk through life with an unburdened heart has been such a gift. Releasing the hurts from the past helped to pave the way for joyously moving forward in the future. If you take the time to make your list, and I sincerely hope that you do, I pray that peace will fill your heart and your mind.

Contact me: sam@theseedofhope.com  

Reading the Bible Part II

Before I pick up where we left off last week there is something that I must make mention of….

I was amazed, after the fact, when I realized that in last week’s post I had actually quoted Scripture! That may not seem like a big deal to you, but believe me, for Jackie and those that have known me for some time it was monumental.

I want to tell you a little story…..

Perhaps you can relate to this: one of the reasons that I shied away from the Bible was the Thee, Thy, Thou, begat, etc. found in many versions. I mean, come on, just getting the message out of a passage was a challenge for me; trying to get through archaic wording made it even worse! I needed something a little more simple, something that I could relate too, something that would make it a bit easier to get past my still-present childhood fears that I couldn’t understand what I’d read.

I turned to our nephew Jamie for advice, and told him of my ‘hang-ups’ with conventional Bibles. Jamie recommended the NIV (New International Version) Bible, which has been translated into a version much easier to both read and comprehend.

Brimming with confidence, I headed to the bookstore to actually purchase a Bible! One look at the shelf containing all the Bibles, and the panic set in! I had expected to find a few different translations, but I wasn’t prepared for what I found; there were more versions of the Bible than, well, than I have pairs of socks!  There were study Bibles, reference Bibles, and one year Bibles. I saw Bibles for men, women, and even students. Good grief!

Just before I turned and bolted for the door I remembered that I was looking for one particular version, so there should be nothing to be worried about, right? So I scanned the shelves looking for the NIV. There it was. But wait! There are different versions of the NIV! Which one was the right one? Making sure that no one was looking, but not really knowing if someone was, I began leafing through the different versions, acting as if I knew what I was doing! I could have asked for help, but that would have been too easy (maybe it’s a guy thing), so I stood there for 5 or 10 minutes with no clue as to which one I should choose! 

Finally, aware of the fact that I could have stood there all day trying to make a decision, I put it in God’s hands. I closed my eyes and thought “Dear Lord, I have no idea as to which of these Bibles is best for me. I’m gonna stand right in front of these selected few, and I’m asking You to guide my hand to the one that I’m supposed to have.” And I did. And He did. And I went home with the GIANT print version of the NIV Bible.

I made one more purchase at the book store that day; for several months I questioned why I bought it, but I realize now that it was God’s way of making reading the Bible more fulfilling for me. It was a publication titled The One Year at HIS feet Devotional, and it gives the reader a suggested reading for each day of the year. This particular study guide cites chapters and verses from the New Testament, focusing mainly on the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

As I said, there is a suggested reading for each day of the year. Here’s what I really like about it: There are two sections devoted to each day’s passage. The first section, In Word, explains what I’ve just read, in layman’s terms. The second section, In Deed, gives me suggestions for applying that day’s ‘message’ in my life. This book has proven to be an invaluable tool in making daily reading of the Bible a part of my life. In fact, each morning Jackie and I sit at the table in our kitchen where I’ll do the ‘reading of the day’ for both of us. You can keep your bacon and eggs, cereal, or bagels; give me a few minutes with my Bible and a hot cup of coffee and I’m good to go!

I’ll close today with a few thoughts:

If you’re looking to enrich your walk of faith, to deepen your spiritual life, to get closer to God, or to learn the teachings of Christ, then the Bible is a great place to look. Unlike myself, don’t let fear stand between yourself and what the Bible has to offer to you.

If you want to know more about the Bible, join a study group within your church community. Talk to a friend that’s well-versed in the Bible. If you want to go it alone, but don’t know where to start, pick up a daily devotional similar to at HIS feet.

I’d love to recommend a particular Bible to you, but I don’t think that I’m qualified to do so. I believe that there are so many different versions available because, well, because we’re all different, aren’t we? Seek some advice in finding the version that’s best for you; the pastor of your church can probably offer you some tips.

It is my humble opinion that you don’t have to know the Bible to know God, to be a Christian, to lead a good life, or to get to heaven. I know I’ve mentioned somewhere on this site that “…it’s not just about the destination; it’s about the journey.” I believe reading the Bible will only serve to make your journey better.

contact me: sam@theseedofhope.com