Skills
that I am slow to sharpen, talents of the hand and mind,
Things
made beautiful for others in the place where I must be;
Take
my gifts and let me love You, God who first of all loved me.
---Shirley Erena Murray, 1992
Offering. Giving. $$$. If we
are honest, many of us equate “giving” and “offering” with dollars. And there is no doubt about it --- the challenges of
the world need your dollars, and mine. But what intangibles do you command that
could make this world a better place? What of your own essence can you offer to God?
Is there a skill you can
offer? Some expertise you can bring to a situation? What talent could you
bring? Could you make the world a more beautiful place with your art, your
music? Could you give voice to those without? Shirley Erena Murray, a New
Zealand hymnist, imagines offering gifts and skills still “in development” to
God; gifts we are still discovering can be offered in trust to God. Can we be
reckless in our giving to God, offering up still unformed parts of ourselves in
the assurance that utility, even beauty, can be shaped from them? Do we
trust God to honor our gifts offered in love?
God. Who first of all loved
us.
