When I was much younger, I wanted to be prime minister (like everybody I guess). Now I want almost anybody but the current incumbent to be prime minister (I guess that’s how it usually works). I realised before adulthood that I had none of the talents I would have needed.
But most of my life I’ve looked across at other people doing other jobs, and thought, “Blimey, I wish I had the ability to do that. What courage, what energy, what heroism, what wisdom, what talent!” Maybe Paul writing to the Christian community in Corinth (Sunday’s Lectionary) has some helpful advice – for we all have gifts, even though we may regret not having the gifts of other people.
So, I may not be able to do what she over there is doing. But I can do other things. Also, I believe that God can poke us into discovering gifts we didn’t previously believe we had (but more on that in a couple of weeks).