When you write from that special place and spend time poring over, praying over, going over, and editing the material, by the time the final copy is ready for print, you kind of consider that particular product to be the finished and inspired product. To make any additional edits to the finished product (which would more than likely happen when you are one who strives for excellence), then it becomes an internal struggle because that desire to continue making additional edits to the finished product makes it, again, a work product. And the cycle continues. Believe me, the struggle is real.

As we draw to the close of the Unwrapped series, please bear with me while this next to the last episode in this series is on a more personal note where I share what I call the musings of a church lady during a pandemic. There is nothing too radical about it; but hopefully it is thought-provoking.
I had an associate who was once a co-worker, then a former co-worker, and finally a Facebook friend. Sadly, he passed away recently.
A tad bit older than me, I found him to be quite the refined gentleman with a wide variety of interests. Also, after his transitioning, I learned that he was very well-accomplished and well-loved many diverse communities.

Many of us are gift givers. For instance, it is not unusual for most of us to tip a waiter at a restaurant; a live singer or band playing at an establishment; the doorman or woman or baggage handlers when checking in or out of hotels; our hairstylists or nail technicians, or most anyone who provides a curtesy or service. Some even extend their giving to panhandlers on sidewalks, in the streets, or on the side of the road.

I believe that unwrapping our spiritual gifts can be compared to my experience with my car, meaning that upon answering the irresistible call, we obtain or are gifted with God-given special abilities or with new ways of using our current abilities for the kingdom work of enriching the church or the body of believers. Much like the situation with buying a new car just before a pandemic, or as they say, “being all dressed up with no place to go”, we have this new thing that we can or is expected to do for God but the opportunity to unwrap the beautiful gift does not seem to present itself due to certain environments; due to certain situations; or simply due to the lack of knowing.

There are lots of books being written, classes offered, and videos made, that promise to teach us how to learn this skill or that; to get rich quick; or become an overnight sensation. And some of us who idealize the success of a person in one field or another, readily take the bait without giving much thought to our own WHAT. Sure, someone might make a thing look like a really cool thing to be or do, but I believe our WHAT (as in WHAT is my own purpose) should always be in the forefront of our minds when considering making important moves in our lives.

We are not here to argue the theory of Creation versus the theory of Evolution. I happen to believe it is true that both exist in their proper context. However, as a person of faith, I cannot help but celebrate what I believe. That is the fact that no matter how all life forms have evolved over time, the total package (meaning the universe, the sky, the land, and the seas) the total package was designed in such a way as to sustain life for many thousands of years.