Do Not Store up Your Talents
“A Christian who withdraws into himself, hiding all that the Lord has given him, is not a Christian! I would ask the many young people present to be generous with their God-given talents for the good of others, the Church and our world” (Pope Francis).
The Parable of the Rich Fool
There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest.
He asked himself, “What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?”
And he said, “This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods and I shall say to myself, ‘Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!’”
But God said to him, “You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?”
Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God (Luke 12:16-21).
We All Have Gifts
My husband is a guitar player, and (although I’m biased), he’s pretty incredible. I remember talking to him when we first met about writing music. “How do you put those notes together to make them so beautiful?” I asked.
After 25 years of watching him bring this gift to others, it’s still amazing to me. His job as a worship leader allows him to help others draw closer to God through music. What a blessing it is that he said “yes” to this gift.
We do not all have the gift of songwriting or playing an instrument. We cannot all paint like Picasso or write like Hemingway. But maybe we can bake, sew, tell stories, or make someone laugh. The ways that God has bestowed talents to humankind are almost limitless.
I spent many years during my career devaluing my knowledge and abilities: “I know this is probably a dumb idea, but …” or “Feel free to disregard this comment, but …."
I was negating every word that came out of my mouth.
This self-sabotaging behavior increased when I began working at the University of Notre Dame. PhDs and world-renowned scholars surrounded me. It was intimidating.
Thankfully, I had people who recognized my capabilities, championed me to others, and helped me gain confidence. The more I leaned into what I knew I could do, the more I was able to contribute.
Service to others is my love language, and it can easily translate into my work when I collaborate with others, help build community, and know that my contributions to a project are meaningful.
It took me a long time to realize that this is where I flourish. It also took a long time to be comfortable turning down an opportunity because I knew I was not the right person for the task.
Sharing Your Gifts
As scary as saying “no” to an opportunity is saying “yes” to something you don't feel quite ready for. I served my son’s Catholic school throughout his years there. Once he moved on to high school, I transitioned to our parish council. It was a frustrating few years, with many obstacles in the way of what we were trying to accomplish.
The day of one of our council meetings, I was driving to work and thought I was done. I didn’t feel like I was contributing; I thought that I was, in fact, one of the obstacles to the council’s efficacy. I decided to pull my priest aside that night and let him know that I’d finish the term, but afterward, I would no longer serve on the council.
That night, as I walked into the building, our priest was waiting for me at the top of the stairs. “You’ve been elected parish council president,” he said with a big smile.
I was shocked. I think I said something about needing a recount.
I’ll never forget his next words: “Others see your talents, even if you do not.”
What talents do you bring to your workplace, home, and relationships? Whatever they are, I pray you use them to the fullest. God is found even in the most mundane of tasks. He’s with us throughout our days, when we’re running a company or when we’re meal-planning.
God created you to shine—and this dark world needs your light. What gifts did God give you to bring light into the world?
God, you have made us all in your image. Help us realize our gifts and be confident enough to share them with others so that they may see you more clearly.
Cathi Kennedy is passionate about building relationships. At the University of Notre Dame, she advises graduate students for the Mendoza College of Business. Her background is in marketing and communications, and she recently received her MBA. Impassioned writer, voracious reader, aspiring knitter. Married to a musician and mom to two amazing sons. Cathi is a convert to Catholicism and seeks to learn something new about her faith every day. Connect with Cathi: LinkedIn • Instagram • Facebook • Blog