A couple of weeks ago I was passing a neighborhood park that had been recently irrigated. What normally was a dry, grassy field had been flooded with irrigation water and suddenly resembled a small lake. The wind whipped up choppy white caps on the shallow surface making the lake appear almost menacing. What may have appeared bottomless to the untrained eye was actually no more than four to six inches of water at its deepest point. I’m familiar with the area so I wasn’t fooled for minute.
What I found particularly amusing was a misguided family of ducks frolicking in the choppy irrigated field. As I studied the water fowl, it became clear that the ducks were satisfied with the mere illusion of a lake. These ducks weren’t particularly disturbed by the fact that their little webbed feet were walking along the bottom of a park field rather than treading water in a freshwater lagoon.
The ducks were content to walk through the water scrounging for tasty tidbits, but I couldn’t help thinking they were wasting their God-given abilities of swimming and flying; settling instead for merely wading through shallow water. If I had wings I’d want to fly! If my feet were webbed I’d like to think I wouldn’t waste my time waddling around in shallow puddles – I’d want to dive and swim with the fishes!
Watching those ducks wasting their God-given nature pursuing an easier lifestyle started me thinking how sometimes we as Christians are guilty of wasting our God-given instincts. We humans can sometimes justify the misuse of our gifts with excuses like, I don’t have any real gifts or I’m too busy to pursue anything outside of work, or I don’t know where to serve that would allow me to use my gifts.
If we have a desire to serve the body of Christ, it’s important that we figure out just exactly what our gifts are – our likes and dislikes – our strengths and weaknesses. Frequently we hear comments like, “Baking isn’t a gift – it’s just a hobby.” OR, “I just like to read to children. That’s not really a talent.” (Fill in the blank with whatever your gift/hobby may be.)
The Vineyard offers many opportunities to volunteer your time if you’re looking to get plugged in and be useful in the body of Christ. If you are someone with an eye for detail or someone who likes to organize things, why not consider helping to stuff weekly bulletins, or volunteer to help arrange donated items in the food bank?
Maybe organizing isn’t your thing but you love kids. The Vineyard Kids classes are always looking for volunteers to help in many different capacities from teaching to reading to rocking babies.
I love to bake and I volunteer my time every Friday morning baking homemade goodies in the church kitchen for the weekend coffee bar. Who knew that there was an outlet for someone harboring a Betty Crocker Compulsion! Volunteers are always needed and appreciated to help with this baking ministry or to help serve in either the coffee bar or bookstore.
Whatever your gifts, your strengths, your instincts or talents, there is always a ministry that is looking for committed volunteers who can spare a few hours each week. Don’t hide your light under a bush; let it burn bright and light your way to a fulfilling life serving the body of Christ!
Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Ephesians 6:7 (NLT)
Blessings in Christ,
Kathy K.
We appreciate you using your God given talent of writing to enrich our lives with these insights God gives you. Thank you for sharing with us.
This is a great reminder!!