Parables

 I am Christian. I am not very good about sharing the gospel (even though I served a mission for my church) and I have a hard time going to church on Sundays. Some this is choice. Some of it anxiety that is only associated with church. But that is a story for another time. 

Over the past couple of years, I have been thinking of the parables of Jesus. Two that stick out, and I have thought about differently, are the Parables of the Talents, and The Unmerciful Servant. 

The 2nd parable, the unmerciful servant, is one that I have thought about a lot. I am a teacher. I teach English in S. Korea to kindergarten age kids. I realized one day that God has so much patience with me. Unfailing, continual, patience with me and my mistakes and I need to extend that patience to those around me. Especially to my students. And at that moment I realized that the parables are not just limited to the words that are used. 

Which brings me to the parable of the talents. To one is given 10, to another is given 5, and to the last is given 1. We tend to use this very literally with our modern language. Talents were money, not skills or abilities that we are born with. I realized as I dreamed for more than being a teacher that, in this season, I have been given 1 talent. A small group of small children. But it is mine. I do not need to be reaching the masses (at this time). I don't need to serving the poor and needy (I donate to charities because that is what I can do, and I am not called to physically be there to serve). I am called to help these big spirits in little bodies (hopefully) build a foundation of self worth and abilities that will guide them for the rest of their lives. 

I have also had the feeling to be big. I have been given a lot of talents. I need to use them and refine them and stop putting them on the shelf. I am trying to balance these two truths in my heart and head. It is possible that 2 things, mutually exclusive, can be true at the same time. 

So, here is to the end of one year and a start to a new one. Small steps lead to great journeys.