Last week I was invited to participate in an art show held in the garden of a private residence. I knew the hostess as an accomplished artist and advancing writer, but when I entered her garden, her imagination literally flowed from the flowers, trees and water features of the enchanted forest she’d created.
An ornamental koi pond occupied center stage, filled with red and yellow carp, pond lilies and glass balls. From there the water flowed to a simulated rock wall cropping, complete with waterfall. The splash led to a small bog where lush greenery thrived in the wet sand along a rocky berm. From there it trickled on to a narrow man-made creek bubbling under an arched wooden bridge and back into the pond. Within the perimeter of the water waited a gathering area of grass and trees where tables, chairs and easels displayed the visitors’ artwork.
Seeing the many abilities of the hostess, I was reminded of the passage in Matthew 25 where Jesus taught the parable of the talents. Though talent is another word for money in the Bible, this passage is often used as an example of how each of us should develop the skills God gives us. In the story, the master gives one man five talents, another, two and yet another, one. The first two men took their treasures, went out, and did their best to develop what they had. The third man, afraid of failing his master, buried his talent in the ground. When the master returned, the first two men received applause and the third man scorn.
Each of us has been given aptitudes God expects us to develop. Whether it be writing a story, painting a picture, or baking a loaf of bread, we should develop the gift to the best of our ability. My friend, mentioned above, let her passion for creativity flow into everything she did. When we stand before God, the author of creativity, we want to hear his applause and the promised words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
Matthew 25:29: (NKJV) “For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.”
