Parable of the Talents

Hello Family!
You know how sometimes a conversation, something you read, or situations will conspire to help you gain better understanding of yourself?  Well I had one of those experiences yesterday.  I work with lots of different "types" of people.  Like you, I see on a daily basis the seeming "injustices" of life.  Some people are blessed with drive, talent and extraordinary intellegence - where other just have to struggle for every last thing be it temporal, intellectual or spiritual.  Yet we are all Heavenly Fathers children and he loves us the same. 

The Parable of the Talents came to my mind and it isn't something that I had really given more than a passing thought to before.  Back in Christs time "talents" were money - but in today's language "talents" are something completely different.  In the story (as in life) the Master of the vineyard gave "talents" to each of his servants.  As you will recall the first servant received five talents, and during the Masters absence he doubled the amount and was able to return 10 talents upon his Masters return.  The second man was given two talents and was also able to double that to give back to his Master.  Finally, the third servant recieved only one talent, but he was too scared to do anything with it and hid it away to give back to his Master upon his return.

I think it is interesting to see that both of the first two servants received the same reward, even though their cumulative return to the Master was different.  However, I think the saddest part of the story is the motivations, decisions and outcomes that the third servant created for himself.

That third servant, from my interpretation, operated from a position of fear and without faith.  He was afraid that if he went out and tried to do anything with his talent he would lose it, thereby angering the Master.  Upon finding what the third servant had done, the Master of the vineyard got after him and scolded him for not going out and at least investing it with the bankers.  Because of the third servants inaction - be it through fear, laziness, or whatever, it resulted in the Master throwing the servant out. 

Upon reflection, what I have learned from this parable is that too often I am like the third servant and too afraid and without faith to invest, act upon and create something with the talents that the Master has given me.  While on our trip to Indiana I was talking with Robbie and he was telling us about many of the things he was doing and about some of the humanitarian expeditions he had been on.  We were marveling at his bravery to "get out there" and do something with his talents.  His response was that "you should never be afraid to get out there and do something good."  From most that would sound trite and cliche - but from someone who had actually done it - it was very meaningful.   The same holds true with the example of Suzie, and the very fact that she is even out in Indiana literally using her talents in the Masters vineyard. 

So my challenge to myself - and to all of you - is to take a harder look at what my/your "talents" are, and how they can be invested into the world.  I belive we are the stewards of our various talents and we are responsible to return and report how we have used them for the benefit of our Master and his vineyard.  Every person in our family has the good fortune to be like the first servant who was entrusted with the most talents - so our responsiblity is even greater.  Also, I believe, our potential for happiness, based on the return of Masters investment in us, is also so much greater.

So brush off your fear and have faith that the Master knew what he was doing when he entrusted you with your unique talents!   Get out there are invest them!

Heidi