When one and one can equal three

It’s a sunny Saturday morning and I have been busy in my garden.  I then felt compelled to stop what I was doing and to go and sit at my computer.  The only word I have at the moment is “talents”.  So, let’s see what comes from pondering on this subject for a while.

Well, first of all, we all have them!  So, as you read this, no one is exempt, including you.  Talents are not earned, they are given.  Given by our heavenly father who gives good gifts to his children.  So, a big question is, do you know what yours are?  Perhaps you could get a piece of paper and write them down.  Hopefully, you can think of a number of talents that you have.   Looking at your list, have a think about how you are using your talents.  Are there some that are more prominent than others, and are there some that you don’t really use at the moment?

What I see in your list of talents is ingredients for a cake.  On their own, they have limited use and might spend a lot of time in the cupboard.  But when you put them together, you end up with something that many can enjoy.  That is why we have birthday cakes to celebrate people.

Let’s dig a bit deeper into your talents.  As you look at them, are you using them in your day-to-day life?  Are there ways in which you could use them more at home with your family?  At work, in your community?  God gives us talents so we can use them.  Why not ask God how you can use them more?

I recently went on a course for creative writing and wellbeing.  I can tell you that it has completely opened up my creative writing, and I am using it all of the time.  Sometimes it is about making time for things.  Maybe look at your list of talents and think about one that you would like to develop and invest in.  From my own recent experience, I can tell you it can only be a good thing.

So, we’ve talked about you as an individual and maybe at home and at work, but I would like to finish by asking you how you are using your talents for God?  On the basis that he gave them to you in the first place, he really wants to see you use them for Him.

When I was growing up, I used to get pocket money once a week on a Saturday.  I’m not sure if there is even such a thing these days.  But I would eagerly anticipate getting my coins and going to the sweet shop to buy some sweet peanuts or lemon bonbons.

Think of the talents that God has given you as pocket money.  It can last for a very short amount of time if, like me, you go and spend it in one go.

The idea of the parable of the talents is that you invest what God has given you.  As you use your talents, they can grow.

As a community, we are blessed with an array of talents.  My heart is for us to come together and use them to bless others and to grow in our own faith journey.  As we do this, we will see our talents grow.

Reflection is good

Have you noticed how much of our lives we spend living in the fast lane?  Things seem to come at us on the other side of the road all of the time.  As humans, we learn to react and deal with new situations every day. A bit like facing one of those serving machines in tennis.  It can be relentless.  It can be hard to find time to take stock of our life experiences. 

Living by the sea, I am trying to carve out time during the day to slow down.  Either first thing in the morning, at lunch time, or after work.  It brings such a change of perspective.  Our relationship with nature will impact how much we notice, think about, and appreciate our natural surroundings, and is critical in supporting good mental health and preventing stress.  The fact that we have the sea on our doorstep is a real bonus, one we need to capitalize on.

Why not find yourself a quiet spot where you can connect with nature?  You will begin to connect with your senses, what you see, hear, smell, touch, and taste.  Might sound a bit weird, but tasting something from the earth that is perhaps salty will connect you more with nature.

Reflection is good; it helps us get quiet on the inside. It allows us to process events in our lives, whether they are good or bad.  Rather than leaving them locked up in a potential jack-in-the-box situation, our memories and emotions can be let out and articulated.  A bit like releasing homing pigeons from a cage.  They are free to fly as high as they want before returning home and joining the rest of our memories, feeling they have had time to express themselves.

The fact is, we don’t take enough time to reflect, which is why our emotional tanks can end up on empty.  So, if you can, deliberately take time out to reflect on the busyness of your life on a regular basis, you will begin to benefit from it and see that it is good for your wellbeing.

Why not begin by scoring yourself out of 10 for wellbeing?  If it needs topping up, then take some time out for yourself.

Telling the difference

Can you tell the difference between these two mobile phones?   On the outside, they look very similar, but the reality is that one has a SIM card in it and the other does not.  Can you tell which one?

The same can be said for people suffering from depression or anxiety.  On the outside, they can seem exactly the same as the next person.  But inside, they definitely are not.  Did you know that one in four people in the UK suffers from poor mental health?  Society uses clever words like “wellbeing” to label it.  My view is that the brain can get sick just as much as any other part of the body.  We just cannot see it so visibly.

Based on those government statistics, if you are in a room of ten people, at least two people have mental health issues.  If it is a room of twenty people, it grows to five people.  But in most instances, it is hidden.  People are suffering in silence.

So, what can we do about it?  I think there are a number of things.  We can become better informed.  Have a look at these statistics:

https://www.priorygroup.com/mental-health/mental-health-statistics

We can check in on our family and friends and make sure they are doing okay.  In our Tuesday group that meets at John and Mims, we start with a check-in.  Everyone gets the opportunity to share what is going on in their life, and then we pray for each other.  This is so important and gives people the opportunity to share where they are at.  This can vary from week to week.

If you don’t see members of your family very often, I would encourage you to pick up the phone occasionally and check that they are okay.  During lockdown, my dad was living on his own as my mum had just died.  I was worried he might fall and be left on the floor, so I rang him every day for one hundred days until things started to get back to normal.  I am not suggesting you do that, but stay in touch.  Send a WhatsApp message saying you are thinking of them and asking them if they are okay.

Alongside mental health, loneliness is another issue that many suffer from.  They will never tell you, but many suffer in silence.

Just over a year ago (Dec 24), it was reported that 3 million people in the UK felt lonely often or always.  That is shocking, don’t you think?

As Christians, we should be there for people.  I am sure we all know elderly people who don’t get out much.  Why not invite them over for Sunday lunch?  This is traditionally a family meal.  We can take for granted that we can chat and laugh together whilst others are sitting on their own with only themselves for company.

I know you know this stuff.  Think back to those mobile phones.  Which one has no SIM?  The answer is right in front of you; you just can’t see it.  I hope this blog will raise awareness of people suffering from depression, anxiety, and loneliness.  We have so much to be thankful for, and hopefully, we can reach out to help others less fortunate than ourselves.