Editorial January 1, 1999 ISSUE

Your talents — not just one

Priscilla del Castillo

I write this on a warm summer night, welcoming the cool breeze from my open window, through which the sounds of chirping crickets, flying lightning bugs, and rustling leaves reach my ears. The massive, sturdy trees that bear these leaves give in to the powerful wind, which makes them sway together like an ocean wave.

And tonight I want to say something to you. Something that maybe will move you like the wind moves the leaves and trees outside my window, In a way, you and I are a little like those trees. And God is like the wind that moves us. He bends the branches of our lives in a good direction.

People our age are blessed with freedoms and opportunities. But we can have limitless freedom if we put our trust in God. He has an inspiring path for each one of us. And we all have a special place where we can shine.

Sometimes people say that we can excel in only one talent, though, because we can spend our time on only one activity. Some of my friends, for instance, have been labeled as “the dancer,” “the athlete,” “the phenomenal clarinet player,” and other names. But we don't have to be limited to the thought that we are allowed just one talent, one label. I believe that's a limit put on us by society. We can do anything and everything we want to, as long as it's a right and good thing. We don't need to be limited by what might seem to be a lack of time or talent, since God is the One who gives us our talents. We can cultivate many talents, reflecting the full spectrum of God's nature.

Really, our talents are limitless. Each of us reflects God in all kinds of ways. We can begin to prove this by simply recognizing His part in our lives. If you give God all the credit for the good things you do, you'll find you can become a marine biologist who sings in concerts at night, for example, and can also play a mean game of soccer Saturday afternoons. I knew a woman with an amazing opera voice, who also loved to travel and had a great photographic talent. She even learned scuba diving!

A teenager's life in today's society is much more complicated than that of our parents, or so we like to think. We have more problems, more pressures, and probably more options.

It's also our happy duty to reflect God in every way possible. And doing this will enable us to face and overcome peer pressure, challenges in school, and insecurity.

I believe our generation needs to make spirituality a priority and know God as a reliable counselor. Spirituality is the fountain from which we draw truth and guidance, to discover the perfect path for each of us among the confusion of possibilities.

When I think about having to prepare for college and filling out college applications, I sometimes feel pressured to stand out from the crowd in some way. I realize at these times, though, that we can actually cultivate many talents. If we each reflect all that God is, why would we be limited to only one talent?

My best friend Liz, for example, is much taller and stronger than I am. We both play sports, but she is an especially good athlete. Her skills shine through the most in ice hockey, her favorite sport. She always seemed like “the sports player” to me. And I left it at that. When she told me she had begun taking art classes and specializing in sculpture, I didn't at first really think of her as an artist. I had that image of Liz as an athlete, and I couldn't get it out of my mind.

But then I remembered that God's beautiful gifts are available to all. We all reflect God in all the colors of the spectrum. So we can become walking rainbows rather than being just a one-color blue or orange. We can love God by reflecting all His colors. I marvel about what we can become — and ALL we can become. We can all be rainbows in the world, inspiring younger generations. Reflecting this full spectrum is fun — and amazing.

What could stop us from expressing all God's colors? Well, it's interesting that just when the world is getting more exciting and busy, fewer young people are believing in God or going to church. As I have talked to my friends about this, I've realized that material gain is threatening religion. People are often giving a car or a computer the power to make them happy, to carry them through the day. These are the things that seem important. But I feel God is the one and only thing we need to trust in. He is far more reliable than a car or a computer, which will someday break down and need to be replaced.

Just when humanity has made so many advancements, we need God the most to guide us in our paths. One way we can defend this progress and feel His guidance is by reflecting Him and searching into our own spiritual senses. If we do this, our generation will enjoy even more freedom because of our stronger understanding of God.

A wonderful, talent-packed future awaits each of us. And as I sit here, hearing the murmur of the leaves and the hum of invisible symphonies, I'm thinking of each of you who will read the Teen Herald. I am knowing that God blesses you and bends your branches in the right direction. Because He's the One who makes the trees of our lives stretch forever to the sky.

Priscilla

Priscilla del Castillo

About the author

Guest contributing editor The Herald of Christian Science Priscilla is a senior at The Dana Hall School in Wellesley, MA, USA

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