Recently, our squad has talked a lot about spiritual gifts both natural and learned. We had a session to sit down with our teams and talk about our gifts and passions and then to talk about how that can be implemented into our ministry.
My team is working with refugee women from Nicaragua this month and their children. Each day, we plan a program for them and focus primarily on building relationships with them and creating a safe space for them to heal. We are responsible for planning the programs and have a lot of flexibility to do anything we are able to teach the women. So, when my team got to sit down and talk about gifts, we all were excited because it brought lots of ideas to light based on what our team brings to the table.
As soon as I was asked to write my learned gifts down, I almost instinctively wrote “Colorguard.” If you know me, you would know one of my biggest passions in high school was Colorguard. Graduating high school wasn’t sad for me, but leaving the band program wrecked me. It consumed so much of my time and dedication. I worked hard and put so much of my heart and energy into pursuing excellence during my years in band. As I processed closing that chapter of my life, I often contemplated how much value it had for me spiritually, or if I had wasted a lot of time. I reminisced with sadness that Colorguard was something I would never really get to practice or use again. So, I stopped myself from writing that down for a few reasons. 1) My friends barely know what that is, most likely would assume it’s weird, and presumably think I’m insane. 2) It’s just a good memory now. 3) It would never benefit our ministry or be anything useful here.
Which led to the other day… we were crunched for a program for ministry. We had planned to do Zumba with the women and learn a routine over the weekend, but we never got the chance. As I tossed it over in my head (thinking I had nothing to offer), The Lord reminded me of a learned gift of mine and that I did indeed have something I could teach – an exercise we did during Colorguard.
We used to do this series of roll down/rag doll/release exercises during guard camp. It allowed us to release tension, work muscles, stretch, and even build mental focus. The women at our ministry love exercising and have been through extremely tough circumstances recently… what better thing to do? An exercise that helps you release tension!
As it turns out, the women LOVED IT. We stretched (Grenada High School Colorguard style), and then I walked them through the exercises. We linked them together and then put them to music. I didn’t have any song downloaded that we ever used in guard, so I put it to “I’ve Had the Time of My Life,” and they quite enjoyed my music selection to say the least. The room was filled with joy and laughter. They had so much fun that they even requested we do it every Wednesday from now on!
It’s a good thing that The Lord knows our hearts and the things that would bring us deep joy to use as tools for ministry so well because I would have missed out on using something I’m passionate about essentially due to fear. Colorguard was a chapter of my life I dearly loved, but a chapter I never thought would bleed into any others or be anything more than a good memory from now on. It was something I thought nobody here would ever understand or appreciate. But God. He sees our hearts, He feels our longings, and He knows our gifts. After all, He created them all with His Kingdom in mind!
I just wanted to share this as a testament that God has placed everything in our lives and paths for a reason. He gives us gifts and abilities and allows us to learn things in hope that we will give them away and use them all for His glory. None of them go useless for The Kingdom unless you choose for them to. The Lord will show you some cool ways to use them that you may never have dreamed of if you ask. What are some gifts/abilities The Lord has given you that you may be discounting and not using for Him?
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
(James 1:17)
“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”
Romans 12:6-8)
