The Light Bearer: The Responsibilities of Our Gifts

Introduction:

Welcome my friend,

Imagine a dark room with about twenty individuals stumbling to make their way to the door.

Naturally, it's chaotic with everyone butting heads and getting in the way of each other.

Now, in that same room each person has a working torchlight tucked in their pockets.

Some know they do, even if others don’t, yet they all keep struggling to find their way.

I know you’re probably wondering,

“Why don't they use these torchlights to illuminate their path?”

This is the basis of our conversation today.

Discussion:

To move forward, we should recognize that "light" in our discussion refers to the unique gifts and talents we naturally excel at.

While activities like singing, painting, acting, and other such crafts and skills come to mind, we're really just talking about the most fundamental qualities.

Some of us shine in uplifting others, some excel at teaching, and some have a sensitive, nurturing spirit, noticing the small details that make those around them feel valued and loved.

All of these qualities matter.

Here, we're talking about the very small behaviors we exhibit to improve the lives of those around us, lighting their path.

Indeed, each of us uniquely possess one or more of these qualities, and they're our gifts and light to share with the world around us.

So why don't we let them shine bright?

■ Why We Hide Our Light 

When we consider the twenty people who pocketed their lights, we might believe we'd behave differently in their place.

Yet, every day, we dim our own unique gifts, failing to cultivate them in ways that could radiate positivity and influence our surroundings.

So, to address how we can improve, let’s explore why we act this way.

Ideally, this involves the understanding that we often hide our light due to one or more of the following reasons

▪︎ We Haven’t Yet Discovered Them

Some of us have not yet pinpointed our true strengths, so we drift through life experimenting with everything.

Some even resign themselves to the belief that they lack any unique gifts.

Yet, how untrue is this?

The fact remains that amongst the many pursuits we’ve tried, there’s often one that feels most natural to us.

It’s the one that aligns with our essence and makes us come alive.

This is our passion, the force that drives us forward.

It's that quality in us that gets the most comment from everyone we come across.

That's our gift, and the more we embrace it, the clearer its purpose becomes, guiding us toward a path where we can wield it with greater impact.

For example, an empath thriving in medicine or roles involving deep human connection, or a curious mind excelling in science or engineering.

When we're properly aligned, it just flows so that we excel greatly.

▪︎ We View Them As Insignificant 

When we believe our light is too faint to matter, we may choose to keep it hidden.

After all, what impact could it possibly have?

Some of us have recognized our gifts, but because they seem unremarkable, we dismiss their significance.

Here, we fail to see them as special enough to cultivate, yet unused gifts fade, losing their worth.

The truth is, some of us excel at things like expressing thoughts clearly, simplifying complex ideas for others, this is a remarkable talent.

Others are skilled at organizing or inspiring people to act positively, stepping into leadership roles, not everyone can do this.

Then there are those who are exceptional listeners or supporters, creating safe spaces for others or acting selflessly to foster growth, these are unique strengths.

Whatever we can do, wherever we are, to enhance our surroundings is our light, and we should be deliberate about letting it shine.

▪︎ We Worry About Others’ Opinions of Them 

Since we view our light as insignificant, we fear others might mock or dismiss them.

Many of us dread criticism so deeply that we’d rather do nothing than risk doing something imperfectly.

Yet, even a small light holds great value in a dark space.

What’s more?

When we share our modest light, we inspire others to do the same, giving them the courage to release their own fears and need for approval to join us.

This illustrates that great things can indeed emerge from a small place.

Here, our collective little lights come together, growing powerful enough to create meaningful impact.

▪︎ We’re In an Environment That Suppresses Them

Those who flourish in darkness will go to great lengths to discourage us from letting our light shine, as it disrupts their ways.

When we strive to stand out in a place where conformity reigns, we’ll face opposition, and if we lack courage, we may feel intimidated.

Yet, by keeping our light hidden, we risk blending into the very darkness that stifles us.

This shouldn’t be the case.

As we’ve discussed, when we let our light shine, it grows brighter, pushing the darkness away.

This is the way.

When negativity can’t penetrate us, it begins to avoid us altogether.

■ Recognizing the Source of Our Light

As believers, every light we display is a gift from God, entrusted to us so that others may see His glory through our actions.

This understanding transforms sharing our light from a choice into a sacred duty given by our Creator, one we are called to fulfill.

God has equipped us with diverse gifts to create, build, and solve problems, enriching the world through our contributions.

However, each person’s light is unique, yet together they form a radiant display that banishes darkness from the space around us.

This gives purpose to our light, making each one significant, as we shine brightly, illuminating the path for others.

■ When We Hide Our Light 

When light is hidden in darkness, everyone stumbles, finding it hard to perform tasks that would be simple if they could see clearly.

This justifies any consequence faced by the one who hid it.

When we fail to share our gifts, we ourselves struggle, missing the deep satisfaction that comes from doing what we love and being recognized or rewarded for it.

Similarly, there’s often a link between scarcity and idleness, a void that employing our gifts to create something meaningful effectively bridges.

Ultimately, when we hide our gifts we miss out on the chance to attract our tribe and the satisfaction and illumination that comes from interacting with like minds.

Summary:

It's good to have shared another time here with you my friend.

Some of the things we've discussed here today we may already know, but I do hope that it was a refresher that was worth your time.

Here's to a fantastic weekend!

Master Apprentice. 

www.x.com/truekingmaker