Kendall the Fire

“And unto one he gave one talent” (Matthew 25:15).

There are people in this vast world of God’s who feel as indistinct as sand by the ocean and as colorless as a faded emotion. They believe that they are worthless. It is the “other” person who makes significant contributions. If people were rated 1 to 10, they fear they would be a minus. Consider this parable adapted from Aesop’s fables:

Once, while romping in the deep, dark jungle, a small field mouse found himself caught in the paws of the meanest lion in the wilderness. The gnawing spot in the pit of the lion’s stomach made him realize that he was extremely hungry. The tiny mouse wasn’t what one could call a sumptuous meal, but he could serve as a suitable appetizer.

Perceiving the imminent peril that was his, the little mouse began to proposition the huge “King of Beasts.” With fearful sobbing, he cried, “please, Mister Lion, spare me… don’t eat me.” This magnificent cat could see no reason not to sate his hunger pains and was already savoring the tidbit. Just as the lion was to perform the trick, “Make the Mouse Disappear,” he heard the last words of the little rodent, “If you don’t eat me, someday I will save you.” The lion hadn’t had anything strike him that funny since his brother fell out of the tree and couldn’t land upright on his feet. “Why that little nondescript  pipsqueak… what could such an insignificant creature ever do to save me, the famed jungle king,” he disdainfully mused. Whereupon, seeing that the small mouse—who would become a morsal in one squish—really wouldn’t do more than whet his taste buds, he decided to give the little mouse his freedom. How grateful and indebted the little mouse felt as he swiftly ran to his tiny home in the ground.

Weeks crept by. Then, one day, odd sounds brought the field mouse to a strange operation. A man was spreading a large net over a pit, A sapling with a rope tied to its top was bent into position and a large bait of meat was laid on the net. Here’s how it would work… when the meat was pulled upon, the trigger would be thrown and the quarry would be trapped and hanging from the tree. Having seen the completed snare, the little creature went back to general mousing.

Shortly thereafter, the night was punctuated by a wishing crack, followed by snarls of anger and frustration. Unexpectedly, the great lion had fallen into the trap. Suspended twenty feet in the air, the beast felt utterly hopeless! His future was as optimistic as a snowflake in the summer; he was caught. This would, no doubt, be his end. Feeling as numb as the backside of a truck-driver, he was awakened to consciousness by the squeaking voice of the tiny field mouse.  “I’ll get you down,” chattered the wee gray rodent. Then, as quickly as the words were spoken, he was up the tree and down the rope. He began to gnaw the rope which held the net that kept the lion captive. In just a few minutes, the husky cat came to realize some important truths. One, his brother wasn’t the only lion that couldn’t land on his feet without fail. But also, he learned that there is always a task that even the smallest can do.

If you happen to be someone that thinks you have little to nothing to offer those around you, consider again Jesus’ words to his disciples “and unto one he gave one talent.” Even if you believe yourself to be a one-talent possessor, Use It!  And, for those who imagine themselves to be at the apex of the food chain when it comes to talents, remember that you really do need what others—especially the one-talent folks—can offer, so take a moment to appreciate them.