Dancing With Lazarus - The Jitterbug Or Swan Lake?

Dancing with Lazarus - The Jitterbug or Swan Lake?

We can’t take any credit for our talents. It’s how we use them that counts. —Madeleine L’Engle

DURING MY SEVEN-DAY wait for a CAT scan, I conducted a rather in-depth self-analysis. For the first time in my over four decades on this earth, I asked myself, Am I living the life I was called to live? Is this who I’m supposed to be? Rather than plan some of the important aspects of my life, it seemed I had just allowed them to “happen.”

Oh, don’t get me wrong. I lived a charmed life. But the nagging question in my heart and in my head was, Am I fulfilling the purpose for which I was uniquely made? Something in my gut told me that I was neither tapping into my full potential nor investing the energy required to live the life I was called to live. But figuring out the “what” was the hard part. So I waited and watched—while praying for direction. Would God direct me to dance the jitterbug or Swan Lake? I was open to either but needed some guidance!

This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. (2 Timothy 1:6)

Not too long after my health scare, the book Now, Discover Your Strengths hit the market. With its help, I began to fully grasp not only how I was uniquely wired but which of my talents I had purposely ignored, stuffed, and many days even denied. By taking the tests in the book, I could articulate what my unique skills are. Now it was up to me to step out in faith and put my gifts to work to become the person I was created to be.

Would this mean change? Yes.

Would this require some discomfort? Yes.

Would this involve taking risks? Absolutely.

Yes, this transformation has been a ride, but I can tell you this. Without a shadow of doubt, I know now that I was called to be your girlfriend, someone who will walk part of your journey with you.