Am I using my talents to the best of my ability?

Once again, the Gospel Reading and sermon today in church got me thinking....a lot! I love to partake in deep reflection, but not if it makes me feel guilty.  Maybe there is something about that, though. Maybe if something makes me think or feel a certain way, there is a reason for it. The Gospel reading and our Reverend Jamie talked about how we need to ensure that we are using our talents, as we are able. So, I started thinking about all the talents I have and if I am using them to the best of my ability. 
Here are a few talents (albeit at varying levels) I have:

• Singing---I have always sung in choirs, but I still haven't joined the choir at church because we attend the contemporary worship service (I could, indeed, sing with the praise and worship team, but I often have had to travel on a Sunday to work on a Monday in another state). Even now, as I'm reading this, I hear myself making excuses for why I'm not doing that. Interestingly enough, I almost always try to model "call-and-response" techniques. For example, one of my participants a few weeks ago taught me how she sings to her students: "Tell me why?" and the students answer "Ain't nothing but a heartache". I even used it during a webinar I taught this past week because why not channel Backstreet Boys?? :)
• Building relationships-Not only do I love doing it on my own (with the students with whom I work through universities---either in teaching or mentoring doctoral students), but I also love helping schools build that culture in which relationships are boosted. That has truly been a joy to me. I also love small gatherings in which I can spend time with dear friends, while Dave is fine with making really good small talk with larger groups of people. I have been blessed with so many beautiful friends, and I can even say that I keep in great touch (thanks, Facebook) with so many of the teachers who I worked with when I was a principal. I also love keeping in touch with former students! Likewise, unless I am teaching workshops with 100 people or so, I truly try to get to know their names, so I can call them by name and get to know them at a deeper level.
• Paying it forward - I feel like I have been extremely blessed in what people have done for me over the years (with cancer crap, getting spiritually fit, etc.), and I do actually feel a desire to help in all of those areas

I do know there have been times in which I thought I might not want to try something (applying for a particular job, jumping into a new role at church, etc.). Why I may sometimes don't initiate those situations is possibly out of fear----"I'm not good enough"; "They wouldn't need what I have to offer"; etc. I know many people who are paralyzed with this fear.  It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy ---- we fear not performing well so we simply don't perform at all.  A few years ago, I did my first Habitat for Humanity build, and, despite my fears of not being good enough, Dave will be coming with me on my 2nd build this next May. I am so excited about sharing this experience with Dave. 

I used to get quite nervous, sometimes, when conducting a professional development (PD) for all teachers or all administrators in a district for fear that they would think my modeling of certain techniques or strategies might be "silly".  I no longer fear that, and I often start by telling them I will be modeling for administrators (for instance) what they might model for their teachers as instructional leaders themselves so that teachers can then take these ideas into the classroom. One of the techniques I use are chimes (just three tones, as I do have to pack clothes in addition to my training material). I almost scolded a few teachers one time in Houston who were on their phones while I was giving instructions on the next task. I used proximity to walk over to them while I was talking, and one of them looked up and said, "We're all ordering the chimes from Amazon". Naturally, that got a chuckle out of me. Fast forward to a week or so ago, I was teaching a workshop to about 60 teachers. At the end of the day, we did a "Circle Up" protocol in which they first individually write one word, one phrase, or one brief sentence that summarizes their learning from the day. We made a literal circle and went around the circle quickly (it isn't meant to be a dissertation from each person, and I, as the facilitator need not respond to each one), many people saying things like "total engagement"; "collaboration is key"; "learning can  be fun"; etc. One of my participants said, "Honor the chimes". I had to ask him to repeat it because I wasn't quite sure what he meant, but he told me afterwards that learning to respect when the chimes are rung, the expectation should be that everyone gets prepared to listen. Brilliant! 

I have thought about school-age students I have known or heard about who feel this fear paralysis in classroom environments. They don't speak up even if they know an answer (for fear of being ridiculed); they don't know how to do the work that has been assigned to them so they simply act out instead. I have learned, time and time again, that sometimes, students would rather be categorized as "misbehaving" rather than "not very bright". Of course we, as adults, can say, "Come on---you can do this!" but the reality that possible environmental issues keep them from wanting to take that chance.  

I, too, could stay "comfortable" in the life God has given me....or I can truly listen to what God is "calling" me to do.  Which will it be? At the end of the day (or all my days, for that matter), I sure would love to hear "Well done, good and faithful servant". 

Happy Communicating to all and have a blessed week,

Shelly