I remember sometime last year, in fact, I think it was this time last year… I had a truck load of thoughts bouncing all up in my head, but most laden of them all was the nagging question of “Funto, what can you do?” … ” What really is my talent?”. Now, trying to answer this question was a major challenge for me and failing to come forth with answers was leading me into a state of depression step by step as I saw other people do things they were apparently gifted in… you know: singing, dancing, comedy, playing of musical instruments, soccer blah blah blah..
iRemember taking a walk one day in school talking to God, telling Him how I was tired of this state, I had been unhappy for a week or two… I cried that night and laid that burden upon him, asking him to take control. I stopped pondering on this matter entirely.
Then he took control.
He began to show me things I could do, firstly, I found myself coordinating Smile Care (a humanitarian org.) in my school (a position I totally did not deserve). I began to notice how the passion to help the less-privileged got fueled up In me.
Being the coordinator of this team in school required me to talk, talk in front of people and with people, planned or totally impromptu.
He showed me yet again that I could do this and do it well.
In the light of all of this I had not come to the knowledge that this was my talent, what I was good at, what I will always be good at, till He sent an angel(a friend) who said ” It takes TALENT to do what you do” and that was it for me! — EPIPHANY!
What's the sense in this?
Now take a good look at this picture to the left… read it’s caption…
Funny thing is that loads of people out there (search yourself, you may be included) do the same thing this rather “un-bright” fellow in the picture is doing.
What is the point of having a lit candle under a bushel? Is it not meant to be placed upon a candlestick that it may shine to all that are in the house?
I get burnt when I see an obviously terrific singer or a gifted instrumentalist or an apparently talented person in whatever it may be, who just places his/her lit candle under a basket… I go thinking “Stingy son of a _____” (Disclaimer: Whatever you fill in the gap, you are totally accountable for it)
No matter what your reason maybe, my bible makes me understand in Matthew 5:16 that you and I are supposed to let our light so shine that they may see your, my good works and then through that means glorify our Father in heaven.
Imagine if Mother Teresa had hid her candle light? Imagine the millions of children that would have been left homeless today?
or
If Michael Jackson never overcame Stage-fright or general shyness and refused to get on stage, imagine all those good music buried 6 feet with him.
#Didyouknow that the Greatest orator of all time was a stammerer ? Demosthenes, imagine if he hadn’t overcome this challenge and trained himself to speak even to the extent of having pebbles in his mouth. He would have died but a feeble unknown Greek. This goes out to every stammerer out there, or any one with all of them factors (S, A, H, X and those yet to come)… You can do it! If you have a passion for singing, sing. If it’s in speaking, speak! Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Don’t let your talent go to grave with you, be that one candle that can light other millions of candles.
Dr Myles Munroe said that the wealthiest places in the world are not the gold mines of South America or the oil fields of Iraq or Iran. They’re not the diamond mines of South Africa or the banks of the world. The wealthiest place on the planet is just down the road. It is the cemetery. There lie buried, companies that were never started, inventions that were never made, best-selling books that were never written and masterpieces that were never painted.
In the cemetery is buried the greatest treasure of untapped potential. Don’t let yours be one of them.
But then, this is what iThink… what do I know ?
obafuntay 
so true!!i gues we all just need 2 pray 4 d courage to allow ourselves shine!
I’m definitely taking that prayer point up!
Amazing post… truly inspirational.
Frances!! Thanks much! 🙂
Thank you Funto
🙂 You just made my day.
Thank You
True talk. Not to be cynical or anything but truth’s that it’s easier said than done. I think the key’s not to compare yourself with other people. Your talent may not be something huge, like say having a great voice, that other people can notice. It could be small and many people might not notice it but it’s no less of a talent than having a great voice…
Very true.. It may be small, but at d end depending on how you use it, it just could turn out big. Pardon me, but I always make reference to my bible: *Parable of the talents*
True again @ “Easier said than done” cos really it takes grace and determination to get out of our comfort zone and allow our light to so shine.
Thanks much much, my little :p friend in France.
🙂 This is something we all need to read. We all have our burning lights but if we don’t put in the effort to keep it going, it will burn out. Which makes me remember the bit you put in about the cemetery being the greatest source of untapped potential. I liked that. It a sobering thought.
Thank yu Tomike, someone (Femi.T) made me realize that d funny thing is that we dint even light that candle(s) by our self… It was already lit by God but yet some of us do a good job cooperating with devil and hide it under a bushel.
Thank you again 🙂
Kk..so m rili thinkn ryt nau…btw,ur evn much better @ writing!
🙂 Abisola! Thanks for stopping by … thank yu.
nice one funto, i can relate to this…it’s like you took thoughts out of my mind 🙂 sometimes, it’s like there’s something holding us back-probably fear, misplaced priorities or something else, but when we can put those things aside and give ourselves the chance to shine, it’s a blessing and we uncinsciously bless others too…. And sometimes, we hold back because we feel like we aren’t good enough or in this case “bright” enough, but we have to remember that there is enough room for light to shine, cuz this kind of light is never enough*
🙂 … I’m honored to think the way u think 🙂
Thanks for stopping by Hauwa, stop again soon.
gud one funto….very motivating……really made me stop and think i m like so many people that don’t use their talents well…fanx
Thanks dear.. I guess we all have to pray 4 the courage to allow ourselves shine!
it’s all by His grace.
Thanks for stopping by 🙂
great one there funto…………………… you have given us all something to think about
#word
Grand piece.
Truly True.
Abosulutely inspiring..!Thank God for using u…really grabd alot..great job!!!
😀 !!
iThank God you could grab a lot too!! That makes me Happy!
#GodBless 🙂