When we were young we were told that all the essentially good things we possess are gifts. They are talents, and are not in any way due to any powers of our own. If I can see the beauty of a colourful garden, it is not on account of anything I did ; if I am enchanted by the sound of a symphony, it is not because I made it possible. I did nothing to create these gifts ; they were simply given to me.
And, because the gifts were given freely, we had a duty to use them fully and wisely. And, although we did nothing to create these gifts, we are able to fashion them so as to enhance them. But we ourselves could do little to fashion the gifts unaided ; we needed teachers who would show us how to do it. And we had a duty to fashion, or train, our natural gifts ; these received treasures were not for hoarding, as a miser might do, but for using. I am reminded of the words of William Cobbett : money is like muck, no good unless it be spread. Likewise, our talents are no good unless they be used. Or again, from an earlier writer, “Words without deeds are an abomination.”
But where did the idea come from? What made people first think that our talents are gifts? Why did they imagine that we ourselves could not have brought them into being? Clearly, such ideas come from a good deal of thinking.
And, why the insistence that we should be grateful for them? Why the emphasis on our duty to use them wisely and for the greater, wider good? Clearly these questions (and the answers to them) arise from the acceptance of the idea itself. But why should we burden ourselves with a moral responsibility? Why not just accept the gifts without any inclination to be grateful?
Or, alternatively, perhaps our talents are not gifts ; perhaps nothing was given, and nothing received, either. Perhaps it is a question of things being just the way they are. Perhaps things are the way they are because they could not possibly have been otherwise. If all things in the mighty universe came about by chance, then we have no reason to be grateful for anything ; we have no duty to make ourselves useful.
It doesn’t matter which view we take, we still have a mystery.
Jamie
The many answers are hidden in your first two paragraphs; at least to me they are.
They are gifts given freely to all but for each one his happiness and pleasure will depend by how he/she uses the gifts and allow them to grow. I cannot accept the notion that things happened by chance; but we have to work on our gifts; each one has a chance to enhance or diminish his joy.
I don’t find things a mystery at all. I have learned with age that I can easily accept things that I don’t need to understand.
Hi Ike,
It’s good to see you and hear your words of wisdom. For it’s true that only the passing of years brings our gifts to fruit. Knowledge is cheap, as they say, but wisdom is priceless.
The passing of years and the guidance of men and women better than ourselves. I have been blessed with meetings with some splendid people by chance (if chance it was) and by being drawn to certain authors. I really cannot relate to one who calls himself a ‘self-made man’ ; just as I cannot relate to a world founded on chance.
I’ve been stumbling through a marvellous book by Owen Barfield. It’s called ‘Unancestral Voice’ and, underneath its easy-going text, it packs some heavy punches. Barfield is a quite orthodox Christian who dares to take spirituality seriously. There’s nothing New Age about his ideas ; he brings no easy comforts. I suppose I must not expect an easy ride from one who brings (to me) a new way of looking at ancient wisdom.
I must pause before I get carried away! Have a nice day, Ike – I’ll drop in to yours for a glass of something soon.
BTW, have you seen our Marya’s new WordPress site? Find time if you can, it will be well worth it.
http://atomsofstars.wordpress.com/
Hello Jamie ..
I called by to see if some photographs might have appeared on your blog …
and find your kind recommendation … thank you very much for the endorsement .. I don’t know what else to say .. I’m always tongue-tied at such moments.
Hello, Marya – yes, I promised some photos, didn’t I? Well, I was able to snap ten … and now I find that I have lost the usb cable I need to upload them to my computer. Disorganized? Me? Disorganized?
I think it will not be long before you’re running out of tea and biscuits on your site – but be patient, for you may get many visits but few comments ; that’s the way things go.