“But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind,” Job 12:7-10.

My wife and I had a rather lengthy conversation with someone about a person who supposedly is born with a talent, contrasted with the notion that practice and dedication brings that skill to a much higher level of expertise.

You see, we’ve all heard the phrases, “He’s just born with a natural talent for art” and “I can’t even draw a straight line.”

Well you see, I believe that it’s exactly an excuse for not even attempting to do something and practicing.

A skill can be developed through daily practice and dedication just like anything. Perhaps there is some genetic predisposition towards something like art or music, or even engineering or whatever, but the practice at it is what advances one towards that higher mark.

I’m not talking about spiritual gifts here; that is an entirely different discussion, and is left for another time.

Perhaps it is true that some have “leanings” towards a particular skill even at an early age. But it is also true that some develop a skill much later in life.

One must know of Grandma Moses who developed her painting ability and skill much later in life. In fact she was 78 when she began to paint her scenes of simple rural life. She lived to be 101.

I can think back to my years as a teacher doing my best to instill a love for learning and to “see” the world around them perhaps in a new way.

I had a wide range of students with the full spectrum of abilities in the classroom. To be sure, some had more ability than others and yet with practice many developed skills over time that enabled them to progress onto achieving and perfecting their craft.

Even others who had a range of disabilities, found that even they could produce a piece of artwork that was pleasing to them.

And perhaps one of the most important things was that they then had developed a greater sense of self-confidence and this helped them at such a critical time in their lives.

All of us can be artists each in our ways as we view the world around us. The first step is actually in how we “see” a building, a rock, or a tree.

We all have our own individual viewpoints and perspective in what we “see.” Develop a love of curiosity and perhaps inspiration will fall upon you this day.

“To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour.”

William Blake (From Auguries of Innocence)

 

Selah,
~ Stephen Hanson

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Stephen Hanson of In His Truth Ministries came to the LORD is a special way in 1975 and has prophesied regularly since. In these end-time birthing pangs we are reminded that judgment must first begin with the household of God. Will we be prepared and ready?

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