I just finished book titled “The Element” by Ken Robinson. Wow what a great book. This read is not religious to any degree but with no doubt, this is a stewardship handbook. Without giving too much away, the premise is each person needs to find his or her “element”. The element is that activity where our passions reside. Something so natural inside us it comes out and we do not even know it. An easy way to understand our element is this, I am engaged in some sort of activity, I look at the clock thinking only 20 minutes have passed but what I read is 4 hours have passed! Holy cow where did the time go! It is in these moments working in our element that a tornado could tear away our home and we would hardly notice. This friends, is the concept of the element. In great depth the author goes on to explain why every person needs to uncover, engage in, and use our element to live a full life. In addition, Ken gives the reader a full list other areas of life that benefit from each person discovering true passions and living them out.

While Ken never mentioned religion, spirituality or stewardship for that matter, at every point he mentioned “element” I was reading God given gift. I have written much about the awesome power each person enjoys when that often hidden gift inside our hearts is unwrapped and used. As mentioned above, time flies by when using these passions, the feeling in the room changes, creativity comes easily and peace knowing we are doing something truly meaningful and we have skill at surrounds us.

I will illustrate this with a story. I met a guy who works for the National Weather Service in Dodge City. This chance meeting was at a party and I did not expect a long conversation. But, this guy went on and on about the exhilaration of predicting, then tracking severe weather and keeping people like me out of mother natures wrath. Matter of fact, he told me the only reason he moved to Dodge City was to do this work and be in tornado ally where he could chase storms when not he was not at work. He went so far as to show me photo albums of the fantastic images he was able to take on one of his many chases. As he spoke I could feel his energy. He did not just talk about work, he spoke about what made him tick. When he went to work it was not a job, it was play. There was little distinction between what he was paid to do and what he did for recreation. This guy was in his element. Or, what I would call using his God given gift.

Day dream about how our parishes would be different if each person understood the passion, the talent God gives us and lived that out? How would our parish be different? How would our personal lives and families be different? Would we have the same jobs or would we spend recreation time differently? Perhaps we would live in another town, state or country. The possibilities are endless.

To uncover this talent, these gifts from God, it is first wise to pray. Don’t just kind of do it! Be meaningful and honest with God. Second, take a step back and see what it is we already do that when engaged, time melts away. And, the activity does not take away energy, but adds to it. Third, listen to people that give compliments about something they see exceptional in us. Speaking for myself, I will blow off complements as I do not see a particular skill exceptional or even valuable. This can be the Holy Spirit working through someone else. For those that understand what I have written and recognize a talent, your job is to help others find theirs. Too many people find their skills as nothing exceptional or they say they have no talent at all. The path to discovery may very well occur through you.

I could go on but now it is your turn. Go seek out what God is calling your to do, make the choice and follow Him.

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