April 12, 2005

A Dilemma

I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.
[Eric Liddell in Chariots of Fire (1981)]

When does one's gift become an impediment? How does one not thrill at its increase and use, all the while giving thanks to God for it? Certainly one cannot run all the time. One will not always be able to run fast. And one day one will cease to run at all. Yet, what if one's purpose is to run fast? And how does one turn from the "feeling of His pleasure" to taking out the garbage, potty training one's child, and needing to make a livable income?

Posted by Clifton at April 12, 2005 02:46 PM | TrackBack
Comments

I struggle with this dilemna every day, too.

See this post for more:

http://karlthienes.blogspot.com/2004/11/pig-gains-no-glory-from-attempt-to-fly.html

Posted by: Karl Thienes at April 12, 2005 03:23 PM

I remember that post, Karl.

And, of course, one remembers from the movie that Mr. Liddell was a missionary before and after he was a runner.

Posted by: Clifton D. Healy at April 12, 2005 03:33 PM

All things are temporal. Can God's purpose be always to point toward Christ? The specific gifts that come and go will do this, to his good pleasure.

I sing while I am able. Some day I will not be able. I am not less called by God to use my gifts as a sign of God's love for His Creation.

Our lives have limits, mon frere. Why deny this?

Posted by: Tripp at April 13, 2005 09:34 AM