Just a note on compassion before talking about gifts. I was listening to my local radio station this morning and they reported that a chinese man had played a game on a computer at some coffee shop for 3 days without sleep. He fell over dead. There was no conclusion as whether it was a heart attack or lack of exercise. A female announcer who lacks some compassion (obviously) said “it was probably a good thing he died because he didn’t have a life anyway”. It was a clever observation. It was funny. My question is “how would you like being married to that little angel”? She’d probably laugh if you fell down the stairs.
Now the gift. The theory is that everybody has a gift. Mother Teresa had a gift of compassion bringing comfort to many, many unfortunate souls. Warren Buffett (a financial guru) has earned more money than most people in the world so his gift is accumulating wealth. A school teacher can relate to students and actually teaches her “charges”. Her gift is inspiring others. A dancer develops skills and the world gets to enjoy the magnificence and grace of an accomplished artist. You get the idea.
You also have a gift. Yes you do! You are special in your own way. Maybe you’ve never thought about it. You do have a gift and it makes you unique. Of course your Mom and Dad always knew that.
Your mission in life is to discover your gift. It is obvious to some early in life and for some it takes years to understand. Trust me, your gift is what makes you special and you should make sure it doesn’t go to waste.
Now the final step. Once you understand your gift, you should give it away. Huh? Yep, your gift should be shared with other people. Mother Teresa shared her compassion. Buffet gave 31 billion (that is with a “b”) dollars to a charity that will improve the world. A dancer performs at the “Met” in New York and inspires dreams. A teacher helps young people find their gift with patience and instructional cleverness. They are all giving the gift that is unique to them.
So Grasshoppers, I’m proud to say you all have a gift. Some of you have discovered your gift and others have an “inkling” about what their gift might be. Once you find your gift, life takes on a new fullness. And then with your gift, give it away. It seems un-natural. The ultimate personal reward comes from using your gift to benefit others.
So, what is your gift?
Love
Dad