Ask the average person what their gifts are and - nearly always - you’ll see a half questioning look appear on their face, after which, you’ll experience more than a few seconds of what radio producers call “dead air.” My heart aches thinking of so many gifts going unused - or “unopened” by the people that possess them, simply because they have never discovered what and “where” their gifts are.

Each of us has talents and abilities we were born with. They are gifts. They are the things that help us find fulfillment and the genuine passion for living that we were created to experience. But so many of us wander - truly wanting to encourage others - but our drive and passion to be a healing force is often reduced to an imitation of the gifts that we have seen in other people.

Please don’t get me wrong. I love that we are prone to imitate the things that are good and bless that we see in others. I strongly believe we should all do that. But for us to go through this life without knowing what our own unique gifts are is to rob the world of something incredibly precious and needed.

How do we discover the gifts we have been given? It’s one of the simplest of all discoveries really. Look carefully at your “loves.” Your “loves” will tell you where your gifts lie.

My little girl has had all of the kinds of dreams that little girls have: She has wanted to be a ballerina, a cowgirl, a dolphin trainer, an astronaut and many other things. But since her birth I've always told her how gifted she is in the things that I see she has been given special talents for. My heart soared recently when she said to me that she felt maybe she should become a writer. She has more talent than I had at her age - and combined with her artistic abilities she could easily publish healing and helpful books for kids.

Yes, she's had the normal temptations to think about becoming a lawyer in order to make crap loads of money. But after some serious discussions (like how 99% of attorneys give the rest a bad name) she began to let her heart be pulled by her “loves” and has started to feel her gifts. You see, she “loves” to write.

You may not be able to combine your gifts with your actual job - operationally speaking - but you can use your gifts at work, at home, in your neighborhood, and in every part of your world.

Ask yourself: “What do I love? What do I look forward to being able to do the most when I am able to.” Yes, a lot of you are going to say that you think your gift is kicking back and watching television. But what I really mean is: What draws your heart? What pulls at it the hardest?

Do you love listening and being a shoulder for people to cry on? Do you love writing? Drawing? Painting? Are you one of those guys who can fix anything and love doing so? Are you one of those gals who loves to bake and cook and freeze stuff? Do you love to drive? Do you love gardening? Do you love animals more than life?

Then understand your love is telling you to invest in people (and creatures) who are hurting and desperately need someone to care for them, listen to them, write them messages of encouragement, repair their home or car, cook for them when they are needy or sick, drive them to the market, bring them potted flowers or volunteer at their local animal shelter. These are "things" you can do - and they may indeed be your actual gifts. But, these "things" may also be telling you what your true gifts are.

People have told me for years that my gifts are speaking and writing. That may be true. But I also know that my heart is pulled powerfully by a love of people and encouraging others. That, I am sure, is my gift. I write, I speak, I draw, I sing - primarily because of my love of people and my desire to see them healed and whole.

You may fix things or bake things or plant things or write things - but your gifts might actually be practical service, showing mercy, helping the helpless, strengthening the weak, rescuing the voiceless or many others. The point is follow your “loves.” Let your heart be pulled by them. Yield to them.

Let go of the fear of being burned. Life will get you burned. We were born in the kitchen - so we have to accept the heat. I wish it were not so for you - but it is. Still - to allow being burned to extinguish your desire to do good is to let the darkness win. The bigger picture of understanding why we get burned is to realize that good is always resisted and fought against. Overcoming heartache to use our gifts to heal others makes the gifts themselves even more powerful in their ability to restore.

Beloved you have great purpose for being on this planet. You were placed here for reasons of incredible worth. Follow your loves. Let your heart be pulled by your loves like a compass always reverts to north. Let yourself begin to be who you were created to be. You can be part of the healing this world so desperately needs.

There's a line in a song that I love more than words can express. The line says: “Don’t be afraid to know who you are and don’t be afraid to show it.” I want to live that line. I want my daughter to live that line. And I want each of you to live that line. You have so much to give to this world. Follow your loves. Because love never fails.

With all my love for you,
Dennis

You inspire me...

Awesome! you have your father's eyes

you know, I was just asked that question (in a round about way, I was asked what will I be rembered for when I am gone) and I was at a loss for a little while. But I thought of my children and of all the animals I love and take in and rescue, and thought well I hope my children grow up to be happy and healthy, thats a way to be rembered, and my children will always rember me for my love of animals (believe me, how can they forget bringing in all kinds of animals and mopmmy helping them ) I love to make people laugh, it always feels good to see someone laugh/smile.  Many time we can not see what we have as gifts (well msot can see their kids are gifts but you know what I mean) You definately bring up a lot of thought producing questions (and answers) thank you, hugs

Dear Dennis,

You have inspired me to share. You are so right on that you could be left! And your timing is impeccable! 

What I love most--and  what I am becoming more aware of is something that I can only describe as serendipity--my definition of which is the convergence of forces that come together to create magic moments. That they happen at all is a blessing--that I can be present when they do is a miracle. This is one of those moments, I think. I hope that the ripple effect from your wisdom goes on forever. 

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

MJ

Thanks again Dennis for saying something so seemingly complicated so simply and making true living possible for us all. It took me a lifetime to realize I was made to be myself...and that is a happy and peaceful thing. But, unfortunately, because it took so long...there are many "gifts" I have ignored, buried, not really used except occasionally...and others that will never be known in this lifetime. BUT there IS HOPE. Today. Today I will indeed believe that where there is a gift there is an outlet for that gift. I really do only have to follow the pull of my heart. And I agree so much. Getting burned is just as certain as death...nevertheless...I really want to stay on the side of the burned rather than the burner. Love is its own reward. If someone rejects love and/or even offers hurt in return...I still have the peace of knowing that at least today I tried to love, to encourage, be kind, bring LAUGHTER! be understanding, listen, really care. Its kind of trite to say better to have loved and lost...some people can be so darn hurtful and mean and make you feel like giving up. But then ALL is lost. And thanks for the encouragement that even the seemingly smallest gifts are of priceless worth. A. Taliz

Wow Dennis how wonderful your heart really is! Actually the thing that pulls me more than anything else is inspiring others... that is one of the maine reasons I love to write poetry!

If I can make a difference to just one person that makes life all worth while to me! You inspire me Dennis and I am so glad to have met you and have gotten to know you a bit!

Thank You for being YOU!!

to everyone here!!

I kneel at your feet Dennis.

PS  I think I love to waste my talent, is that bad? 

Naw, just being a smartmouth...

 

MJ;

I think your ripple effect comment is probably truer than we will all ever know. I start each morning reading my mail. I have kept Dennis' words in my heart on many days and it effects the way I relate to everyone during the day. I have a lady at the grocery store who always tells me to get in her lane because I brighten her day. She's taking a week off so that she can get reaquainted with her estrained daughter and grandkids, said I told her that life was too short to not love your deepest. Dennis might just open the hearts of more people than he could ever hope to meet.

Steve R.
message from our Member, Ishwara 1:48 PM
You have received a message from Ishwara:

"The weeping sand"

     As soon as he arrived in Marrakech, the missionary decided that he
would spend each morning in the desert which lay beyond the town.
During his
first walk, he noticed a man lying in the sand, caressing the ground
with
his hand, and with his ear pressed to the earth.

     "He is a madman," he said to himself.

     But the scene was repeated every day, and intrigued by this
strange
behavior, after a month he decided to speak to the stranger. With great
difficulty - since he did not yet speak Arabic fluently - he knelt down
beside him.

     - What are you doing?

     - I am keeping the desert company, and consoling it for its
solitude
and tears.

     - I didn't know the desert was able to weep.

     - It weeps every day, because it dreams of becoming useful to man,
and
being transformed into a great garden, where one might grow grain,
flowers,
and raise sheep.

     - Then tell the desert that it has fulfilled its mission well -
said
the missionary. - Each time I come walking here, I understand the true
dimension of mankind, for its open space allows me to see how small we
are
beside God.

     "When I see its sands, I imagine the millions of people in the
world,
who were created equal, although the world is not always fair to all.
Its
mountains help me to meditate. Upon seeing the sun rise on its horizon,
my
soul is filled with joy, and I am closer to God."

     The missionary left the man and returned to his daily affairs. To
his
great surprise, the next morning, he found him in the same place, in
the
same position.

     - Did you tell the desert everything I said to you? - he asked.

     The man nodded.

     - And it continues to weep nevertheless?

     - I can hear each of its sobs. Now it is crying because it spend
thousands of years thinking it was completely useless, and wasted all
this
time blaspheming God and its destiny.

     - Then tell it that although man has a much shorter life, he also
spends many days thinking he is useless. He rarely discovers his
destiny,
and thinks God has been unfair to him. When the moment finally comes
that
some event shows him why he was born, he thinks it is too late to
change his
life, and he continues to suffer. And like the desert, he blames
himself for
the lost time.

     - I don't know whether the desert will hear - said the man. - It
is
already so used to the pain, and cannot see things differently.

     - Then let us do what I always do when people lose hope. Let us
pray.

The two men knelt down and prayed; one turned towards Mecca, for he was
a
Muslim, the other placed his hands together in prayer, for he was a
Catholic. Each prayed to his own God, who was always the same God,
although
people insisted on calling Him different names.

     The following day, when the missionary went on his morning walk,
the
man was no longer there. At the spot where he used to embrace the sand,
the
soil appeared to be moist, a spring having emerged. During the
following
months, this spring grew in strength, and the inhabitants of the town
built
a well around it.

     The Bedouins named the place "Well of the Desert Tears". They say
that
all those who drink its water, will succeed in transforming the reason
for
his suffering into the reason for joy; and will end up finding his true
destiny.

Ishwara x

I’m so grateful for each of you who posted such incredibly kind and thoughtful remarks on this thread. When I read your replies and the feelings you express I have no doubt the "ripple effect" of Love - that was mentioned here - can and will take effect.

I'm humbled to be a part of a group where people really do want and really do try to live "by heart." Thank you - to each and every one.

With love and gratitude,
Dennis

Hi Dennis, Well you truly have a gift for putting things into words.Many years ago I realised I had a gift in my hands. They connect me to many things and a little like plugging in a device, my hands plug me in to other creatures, people and animals. I spent many years using this is different ways, until finally I found a way that satisfied me. I became an aromatherapist. My healing was accepted as part of my treatment. BUT it wasn!t always so - healing of this kind is not always acceptable and finding a way to use such a gift is not always straight forward as I have found. Now my situation doesn't allow me to use my gift very much and I am suffering physically as well as spiritually and emotionally. I am out of place again. Sometimes you have to find the right place as well as the right other things, a bit like a jigsaw until everything fits. I have a piece of my puzzle missing and know that I must wait until it comes to me. For an impatient and curious person like me this is a real learning process! I know I won't find it by looking hard, the place and the time are not right. It will come to me but there is something I have to find first and I think that is love.  My experience over the last seven years has been very difficult for me. I loved and trusted so easily and my husband used this to manipulate and blackmail me. He died of cancer two years ago and I found it very difficult to look after him when by that time I disliked him very much. It has taken two years to reduce the anger I felt towards myself for allowing this to happen! Now I feel better again and my capacity to love improves every day. People like you are such a great help. Thanks Dennis. Love and light Wendy xx

http://www.peacefulearth.com/peaceflash.html

A Gift for you Dennis. Thank you.

wow, thats absolutely beautiful, i am going to pass that around as the page says to (altho to hundreds, not just 10, i think everyone can appreciate it) thanks for posting that website!!!

I truly enjoyed that. Thank you, it was beautiful and inspiring.    Bonnie

Dennis:  The depth of your heart and soul serves as an inspiration...I am humbled and awed by the person you are...we could all take a lesson from you...

I think this is the first time I've really had a chance to drop in on this group and I find this!!!

Dennis, thank you a million times for this... just beautiful!!!

It is so funny how sometimes the things we love doing the most are the things we lock inside away from the world, almost as if to protect it... or maybe I'm just projecting here a bit.

But sometimes I think it takes alot of growing up to get brave enough to commit to what we love doing best, more than anything on this planet. And, as you have said, usually it is the very thing we are meant to do!  Its really nice to wake up early on a bright new day and read something as lovely and as inspiring as this.  Thanks so very much for that 

My heartfelt thanks to each of you for your kind replies and for your special gifts and words. You all are the motivation for what is shared.

Dennis

Dennis,
 I have been away from the group for awhile, and upon returning, just as the many, many times before, what you have written from your heart touches mine...

May you always be blessed.. and smiling,
 Sincerely,
 Jules

Hello Dennis, you definately have a gift...a gift that i is not just personal, but it gives to others, the idea of challenge, and motivation, make others want to move forward in the positive, i agree that we all have some unrevealed talents and it take leaders who are concious of the potetial that rest deep within us all, my favorate scripture is 1John 3:2 "Beloved now we are the children o God and it does not yet appear what we shall be!" ...i believe in this life time you Dennis will exprience levels of inspiration beyond your imagination, simply because you always empty yourself for others gain, therefore you make room for new inspiration, higher heights, and greater insights....Bless you my brother!