Article April 18, 2011 Issue

Offer your talent to the world

By Annette Kreutziger-Herr

“A talent is forged in the quiet; a character in the stream of the world,” said German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Indeed, there is quiet nourishing needed for a talent—but also the expression of this talent in the wider context of human interaction. 

Talents are gifts, good stuff, which need to be put into action—and we all have them. They need to be used as much as a gift needs to be unwrapped in order to perceive its worth. There are many talents, many more than we usually perceive. These talents move beyond special gifts and qualities in art and music, in the natural sciences, technology, and economics, to other realms. There is the talent of uniting or networking people, of discerning the needs of others at the right moment, of patient endurance and courageous living. There is the talent of cherishing nature, animals, and the environment; and having a fearless heart and hand for every living thing under the sun. There is the talent for beautifying otherwise dull surroundings, of listening attentively and constructively, of selfless and straightforward thinking. 

If you look at our world as a web of qualities, you could say that without each thread woven into it, you wouldn’t have a strong net carrying on the movement of life, cushioning the shock waves of daily activities, and backing up good action. A strong and sturdy web needs all the threads. Likewise, each talent unfolds its influence when used and when infused into the network of actions and motives.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

Offer your talent to the world

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access