I recently went to the Cincinnati Botanical Zoo in Ohio with my family. We eventually made our way to the Penguin Exhibit and found that penguins are fascinating and so much fun to watch. Not many of the penguins were swimming but they were standing with their backs to the onlookers with their wings extended out as if they were imagining they would fly away. The picture on the back wall was of a mountain scene. The thought that went through my mind was, “Why did God create this bird and give it wings only for it not to be able to fly?” In their natural habitat they can see other birds fly over head and see that those birds have wings as well. How cruel is their reality of having wings but not being able to fly? After having this thought I browsed over at the sign that was connected to this specific exhibit which had a description of the penguins. The information that stood out to me was that penguins can swim to the depths of the ocean approximately 1,000 feet deep which would be higher than the tallest skyscraper in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. I tucked this information in my mind and moved on to the next exhibit not knowing that later that evening God would have a lesson for me in this fact.
Later, at the hotel while we gathered and ate dinner in our room I was reminded of the penguins again and how they do not have the ability to fly. Their inability to fly is not a cruel punishment from God, however, because they can swim to such depths, they can find the food they need to survive and experience a world that no flying bird will ever see. I realized that in my own life I look at my talents, giftings and abilities and then compare them to others. At times I feel as though I have been slighted or I do not understand why I cannot do what another person can who has similar giftings. I then realized that rather than be jealous or think that this is a cruel fate I instead need to go and connect with my Father, Jesus and ask him who he created me to be. I long to surrender my giftings to him and not question his methods or why he made me a certain way but to go to the Author of my life and ask him what he designed for me to do. Not all birds fly, some birds swim to depths that no flying bird will ever see. Just as not all birds fly not all humans are created for the same purpose but each has been given a purpose and a specific and unique calling. What is your purpose? What were you created to do, to fulfill in this life? There are people who need your talents, who need your words, your encouragement, your servant heart, your creativity, your healing touch and all of these things are unique to you and the things that the LORD is calling you to. Let us not waste our time in comparing ourselves to others but instead use our time wisely and go to the One, Jesus who has the answers and then go and use our giftings to help a world in need. Sometimes we need to stop looking to the sky and wondering why we can’t fly and realize that we were actually made to swim. It is in this realization that we will see and experience life that was designed uniquely for you.
Comments
Post a Comment