I'm taking a break from my prince charming episodes to talk about gifts. Last week was my birthday where I received an amazing gift that has been worth retelling. I was fed, caked, and handed a flash drive. I know, it doesn't seem like a flash drive would count as an amazing gift...but this was a USED flash drive.
I should explain...
It was a flash drive that contained my gift.
Wait...that's not exactly accurate either...let me try again.
The flash drive had been used to save a powerpoint presentation created to tell me what my real gift was going to be.
Clearer? I suppose I should just tell the story.
I inserted the flash drive into my computer and began to play a powerpoint that described the contents of my birthday celebration in a style that was one part treasure map and one part scavenger hunt. Slide after slide showed dates, times, locations, and pre-locations...my heart and mind racing to try to figure out what this gift was going to be. Was it a night out on the town? Seeing a musician friend in concert? My imagination raced ahead of the clues to try and be Sherlock Holmes. All of me deductive skills proved useless as I got to the final slide. I discovered that I was going to see one of my favorite artists in New York City!
I made some sort of unnatural sound that had never been made prior and let the stunned excitement settle in on me. It was truly an amazing gift. Smiles on the faces of those in the room confirmed that I was officially no longer cool, but I suppose that is what birthdays are for, right? This was a gift tailor-made for me by someone who knew me. It took time, sacrifice, and creativity. It was a good gift...a great gift.
Hugs were shared, thanks were given (profusely and humbly) and I set my sights on New York City.
I was describing this experience a pastor and friend. We got to talking about Pentecost and how each of our respective churches handled the subject. Pentecost is the birth of the church...it's when Jesus returned in the form of his spirit to honor the promise that he will never leave us again. He not only gave his presence...but he gave us gifts.
Kinda like superpowers.
We all have them. Short lists are in the Bible...like speaking or healing or being able to make guests feel welcome. Some people just see life a little differently while others are able to use their strong shoulders to help the weak. Some have the ability to express their love in art while others express it in drywall or casseroles.
A gift - when exercised - is easy to spot. We tend to identify these people as extraordinary because they stand out in the crowd. They are the 20% of people doing 80% of the work. But there is a problem with that...
...he gave us ALL gifts.
The church's #1 problem isn't that we don't have enough money or that the culture seems to work against good or even that leaders have abused their power. It's that we have piles of unopened and unused gifts. We look like a bizzaro christmas where the gifts are ignored...or even worse, admired and put away. It's like my grandmother who had a drawer filled with beautiful clothes that were given to her. She was saving them for a special occasion that never came. She said they were too nice to wear...causing gifts - which included heart, hope, and resources - to never do their intended work.
Not to say that we aren't grateful. No...we, do an amazing job of making sure the giver is well thanked. We sing songs, read scripture, hear preaching, and even talk about how great the giver is when we are with each other. Have you ever tried to find good hymns when planning a sunday service about the spirit and his gifts? We sing about Jesus and his love, his sacrifice, and his power - all the while holding the gift he gave behind our back.
I wonder if Jesus ever feels like saying "Friends, you've thanked me...but I have given you gifts to use. You can let go now. Go see what you can be".
I suppose it's easier to talk up the giver and keep describing the vehicle for the gifs over and over. It would be like me saying my birthday gift was a flash drive. I could make sure I keep thanking the giver...I could make it a weekly or daily thing. I could commit to ever day looking at at least one of the slides and pondering it's truth. I could attend studies and read (or write) books about the various nuances of the presentation - use of colors, why a particular font was used, the significance of the locations, etc. I could get into arguments about the right way to view the flash drive and it's ultimate meaning.
Or I could get my skinny butt in a seat, order some drinks, and get ready to enjoy the concert.
I think that's what the giver would prefer. I think there would be great disappointment if all I ever did was celebrated her and the description of the gift but let it go unused. The gift involved sacrifice and I would dishonor the giver and the gift if I don't get myself to that show and let it infect my soul.
You have a gift...open it. Use it.
The giver will be there...rocking out with us.
That's a promise.
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