"A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be ultimately at peace with himself."

Jesus could have played it safe and remained a carpenter His entire life. After all, it was a profession He knew well, and something that would have paid the bills and kept a roof over His head. By choosing the life of a carpenter, He could have avoided all together, the trials and pain He suffered during His short life. But thankfully, Jesus knew His true calling; His highest gift. He left the hammers and nails to someone else while He focused on the fire that burned in His heart — the mission He knew He must carry out.

Many successful people, in all walks of life, started out as something else before realizing what it is they were put on earth to do. I am often fascinated by the autobiographies of famous people and how at early stages of their lives they found themselves heading off in a direction that would lead them miles away from their true calling; their highest gift. Eventually, however, they found their way home and became the people God meant for them to be.

My wife Jan is a wonderful example. For eighteen years we put the idea of having children on the back burner while we both grew our careers and chased financial success. A little over four years ago we decided to try and have a baby. Or, should I say, Jan knew in her heart it was time and lovingly convinced me it was something we should do.

As we both turned forty, our beautiful son Josh was born and Jan became a mother for the first time. Seeing her today, as she cheerfully goes about the duties of motherhood, you know that being a mom is one of the things her soul came to earth to do. Yes, the world can rest a little safer knowing that another child is being nurtured and loved by a kind and caring soul. Jan has become one of her highest gifts — a mom!

What is the truth that lives in your heart? What is your highest gift? For many of us, what we do to make a living has nothing to do with where our passion lies. Somehow, perhaps because of the wishes of our parents or the limitations we placed on ourselves, we have chosen a lesser gift, or worse yet; become something that we are not. We live unauthentic lives and while this certainly affects our well being as individuals, it also has a negative impact on the world as a whole.

I have often wondered how much better the world would be if everyone who loved to dance became a dancer. If every soul who could harness the creativity of a paintbrush, spent all of their waking hours creating beautiful pictures on canvass. Or those with the passion to sing allowed their voices to bring happiness to others. What if everyone practiced their highest gift and did the very thing they knew they should be doing instead of compromising and settling for something less, something safe.

Some will argue that they do not know what their highest gift is. To that I would say, listen to your heart and follow your intuition. In most cases, your highest gift is something that comes naturally and causes time to stand still whenever you do it. Take whatever your gift may be, nurture it, grow it and let it expand. Don't be afraid to fail or make mistakes. Don't be afraid to venture out of your comfort zone. Take baby-steps toward your true calling and start part-time while you continue to earn a living at your current job. Do whatever you need to do to take that first step forward — but take it!

A couple of years after our son was born, Jan decided to take a pottery class. Early in her life, back around the age of sixteen, she had discovered her artistic abilities. She even went so far as to begin college as an art major. But like many would-be artists, following her bliss and moving towards her desires seemed a little too risky and far too impractical for the "real world." So, for almost twenty-five years she kept the artist-within neatly hidden away.

Almost from the moment she began the class, her talent began to soar! The passion she had kept buried inside for so long was finally being released and her soul loved every minute of it! Today, she has built a studio in our home and is busy making the world a more beautiful place as her hands turn the earth to art. It all began with one little pottery class - one little baby-step towards the truth that lived in her soul.

Much of the stress we experience in life, and much of the stress we create for others, is caused from the imbalance we experience by being someone or something we are not. We find it difficult to love others and really contribute to the world, because we haven't yet figured out how to love the one we're with — ourselves. We may fool ourselves and even the world for a while — perhaps making a good living while doing it — but deep inside where it really counts, we are miserable, out of synch, and dying a slow death each and every day. In such a state, is it any wonder happiness alludes us?

One of my favorite movies is "Dead Poets Society." In one of the scenes, the teacher, played by Robin Williams, shows his students an old picture of a graduating class from many decades prior. In so many words, he explains to the class that while all of the people in the picture had their own hopes, their own dreams and their own gifts, all are now deceased and pushing up tulips in cemeteries. "You only get one chance to make a difference in this world," he continues. "Carpe diem! Seize the day!"

We serve no useful purpose by going through life, biding our time, while ignoring our highest gift — what it is we know we should be doing — our role in the universe. Our time on earth is but equal to the space between two words in a paragraph. Sooner than we think, the last grain of sand will have made its way from the top to the bottom of the hourglass. The decisions we placed on our "to do" list planning to get to someday — will no longer be available to us. Another generation will have replaced us. Our time on earth will be over.

The world is waiting to hear the unique song God placed in your heart. You are the only one who can play the notes, for you are the only one who knows what they are. Somewhere in the depths of your soul, lying dormant, just waiting to be found, is your highest gift - the instrument God gave you to play. Dust it off, tune it up and let the music begin!

Some Things To Consider

Are you currently doing what you came to earth to do? Do you look forward to the start of each new day and the opportunity it brings for you to seize the moment? Is there a nagging in your heart that says the way life turned out is not the way it should be? If you're not living your highest gift, someone else is picking up the slack and doing your part. Maybe its time for you to take off the mask of the person people want you to be and become the person that you are.

All the best!

All Rights Reserved © 2002 By Jeffrey Alan Hall