We went out of town last weekend, and came home to this in our garden.

If you leave a fruit on the vine too long, it rots.  And rotting fruit looks, tastes, and smells disgusting.

Fruit was meant to be enjoyed by others.  Not to rot on the vine and never be enjoyed.

The same is true with the gifts God gives the Church.

To individuals in the Church: If God has gifted you, and you’re not using that gift, there’s a great chance that the gift will rot and start to stink.  If you’ve got a gift, use it!  We (the Church) need you to.

Have you been able to use them to build others up and honor God?

In leadership, there’s one train of thought that says that you need to work on your weaknesses.  Address them so that you can improve them.  Make them…not so weak.

This isn’t an all-too-terrible approach.  But it’s not the one I’m taking.

Rather, I’m focusing on my strengths.  I’m not good at everything.  But I am good at some things.  I’m not bragging here…really, I’m not.  We’re all gifted at some things.

Read this quote from Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath

Our studies indicate that people who do have the opportunity to focus on their strengths every day are six times as likely to be engaged in their jobs and more than three times as likely to report having an excellent quality of life in general.” (iii)

Why not take the path of least resistance?  Has God not gifted you for a reason?

Carl Lewis, please stick to running.  You’re good at that.