Looking for the Silver Lining

 

" I got that sunshine in my pocket
Got that good soul in my feet......Feeling good, good, creeping up on you
So just dance, dance, dance
Come on"   

                 "Can't Stop the Feeling" by Justin Timberlake

 I just had to lead this with one of my favorite feel good songs.  We could all use a little bit of feeling good about right now. Everybody knows what we are grappling with in American life right now...I don't need to list the variety of things that 2020 has brought upon us.  So many things have come to crush our spirits and make it hard some days to put one foot in front of the other.  So when something comes along that can lift our spirits....I feel it is worthy of note. Something that can bring a word of encouragement, lifts you up,  and then leaves you with a little sunshine in your pocket.

I felt compelled to write this blog because of an inspirational sermon by our Pastor today. Pastor Garth has a way of inspiring others and also encouraging us to think about things that perhaps we might not have thought about. Today was a perfect example of sometimes we have to be prodded to think about  things that might otherwise be considered inconsequential. 

Our Pastor today talked about our God given talents and how we can use them to not only improve our own lives, but the lives of the people we touch. Most people find it hard to identify their own talents. One has to look long and hard within and be honest with yourself in finding those talents. Garth explained that proclaiming your talents is not bragging, but rather it is holding yourself accountable for using the gifts that God has given you.   An important verse highlighting this is from 1 Peter 4:10  As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.

So today's sermon inspired me to look hard at my talents and see what I could do to help utilize them.  As it has been said, the hardest thing of all is determining first what your talent is before you put it to work.  So here I am at the keyboard, working away at what I perceive is one of my talents. I have yet to write the next "Great American novel", but I think sometimes I manage to put some thought provoking words on paper.

So when I was younger, I remember several relatives telling me Julie had the "gift of gab". Somehow that gift has transformed into a gift for storytelling and writing (with the modern day version of 2 blogs). I still find it hard to think of myself as a "talented" writer, but if I can use that gift or talent to inspire or encourage others than without a doubt...I will. 

Another gift I have, I often try to interweave in my writing:Optimism. I have frequently been told that I have a gift, or talent, of looking at the bright side and looking for the proverbial silver lining. I think it is a good thing to be more positive, but one also needs to be practical and have a pragmatic approach sometimes. Looking through the world always through rose colored glasses can blind you to the dangers that inevitability exist in our world. Yet, looking for the positive can help to diminish those things in the world that can pull us down. I am not a Polly Anna, but a Realist.  I try to use both my gifts of optimism and writing in a way as to hopefully help those that I can.  And I believe the glass is always half full. Cheers!