Discovering Our Unique Gifts Deep Inside (Lech Lecha 5780)

A parent visiting my office last night asked why there are so many colored pencils at the work table. "It's not the art room!" they exclaimed. 

Sure, I have them there for doodlers. More important, though, these pencils are a reminder to treasure the uniqueness of each student and a valuable lesson from this week's Torah portion. Lech Lecha begins with the divine directive to Abram that he leave his birthplace and everything familiar, then venture out to a destination not yet specified in order that Abram will become a blessing. (Genesis 12:1-2.)   

In Hebrew the directive, "lech lecha," usually is translated as "go forth" or "go! really go!" But the Kotzker Rebbe (19th century, Poland) reads the Hebrew more literally to mean “go into yourself.” That is, discover in yourself the unique gifts that belong only to you. Explore your highest potential. If you can activate that journey, then you will be a blessing to others. This framing is a reminder that these gifts deep inside are the ones we carry wherever we go. In my mind, these are the gifts that sustain throughout the journey of life no matter the detours or twists and turns.   the ones we bring with us wherever we go.  If we observe them and honor them, these gifts will sustain us throughout the journey no matter the destination.

There's a story* about a person named Lilly. She performs in traveling community theaters. Away from her hometown one night during a strenuous jazz piece, Lilly’s throat got very sore. In a strange town, Lilly called around until she found a doctor who would see her. Lilly sat in the doctor's waiting room for over an hour. Frustrated, she was thinking of walking out when a nurse came from behind the reception desk. “Do you mind if I ask you something personal?” the nurse asked. Lilly  was  pleased  that  someone  had  even  noticed  her  so  she  said,  “Go  ahead.”

The  nurse  started hesitantly,  “I  noticed  your  hand.” Lilly had lost half of her hand in  a forklift accident when she was eleven. As a result,  she never really pursued  her interest in theater as a kid assuming that no one would want  to look at her mangled hand on stage. Lilly found all sorts of excuses instead. "I'm not really talented or too busy with work." Still, Lilly knew she had a  beautiful voice and she loved musicals. So one day, Lilly decided to try out in a local community theater. She was the first one cast and was cast in almost everything after that. 

Lilly  thought  of  all  this  as  the  nurse  repeated  his  question  and  added,  “How  has  it  affected  your  life?” Lilly was shocked by the question. No one had asked her that question since the accident. The nurse continued, “You  see, I’ve just had a baby and their hand is like yours. I was hoping you could tell  me how it has affected your life.”

Lilly answered, "Not in a bad way really. I do many things that people with two normal hands find difficult. I type super-fast, play guitar, ride and show horses. I'm involved in musical theater. And I am constantly in front of a crowd as a professional speaker. Always in front of a crowd. All that seemed okay for me because I enjoyed the encouragement of my teachers and the love of my family. They always focussed on my unique strengths. Never on what I was missing.

Then, Lilly added, "Your baby does not have a problem. She is normal! We all have imperfections or oddities that make us unique, some we need to overcome. For some of us, these are visible in our hands. For others, these are invisible in our hearts. You," said Lilly looking intently at the nurse, "are the one who will teach your baby to think of themselves as normal. Through you they will learn that different can be wonderful. Different can be fun. It is what makes them unique and special."

Lilly surprised herself with such a long message to the short question. The nurse thanked Lilly and quietly returned behind the reception desk. And Lilly thought gratefully for the accident that brought her to this particular doctor's office. 

Sometimes we are embarrassed by what makes us different. Or feel awkward about those differences. But Lilly's story reminds us that being different is more than okay, it is precisely what makes us most human. Most normal. And looking deep inside to discover our unique gifts, then using those gifts on our journey of life is how we bring blessing to others. We can do that if we celebrate our differences, learn to appreciate ourselves for what makes each of us unique. 

As Nobel Peace Prize awardee, Mother Teresa, would often say, "We are pencils in the hands of God." The colored pencils on my work table are there to remind me that we each carry unique gifts. We are the divine pencils that bring blessing into our world. 

=====
*This story is adapted from Jack Canfield and Mark Hansens, A 2nd Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul.