“Hi. I'm John.” A slender
man with a navy-blue hat introduced himself and smiled as he joined
our table. “Hi John,” I replied. “I'm Gabby, and this is
Michael. We're coloring pictures. Would you like some paper and
crayons?” John said he would, and we fell into silence for a few
moments.
There was a kind of understanding between us; that of three
weary souls who had finished a long day's work. To be sure, there are
some enthusiastic folks at Noble of Indiana. But during this
particular visit, I was drawn to Michael, who sat apart quietly, and
was okay with moments of silence in our conversation.
As we focused on our pictures, a house
began taking shape on mine, with a small tree beside it. I looked
over at Michael's paper and saw that he had drawn a house, as well. I
commented on his drawing; he commented on mine, and John showed us
the airplane he drew, featuring himself as the pilot. Then we got
busy with a second drawing.
This time, I opted for a pair of
hearts, using pink, red, and orange crayons. I worked diligently
shading the background and outlining the figures... Then I stopped.
Looking up from my drawing, I realized that John was watching me.
Before I could ask him why he was staring, John inquired, “Do you
study art in college?” I blushed. He wasn't kidding. Looking down
at my 4th-grade-level masterpiece, I replied, “No.” “Oh,” was
the simple reply. “You're very good.”
John went back to work on his picture,
and I thought about what he had just said. Heaven knows I'm no
Picasso! But my crayon hearts aren't too shabby. I always thought
that being an artist meant showing uniqueness in an outstanding way.
But the point of this story is not that I will now switch my major,
or host an upcoming exhibit in the Fisher Hall Art Gallery. On the
contrary, what I learned from coloring with John and Michael is that
each of us has little gifts that can make a big difference in the
lives of others.
What are your gifts? What are the
little talents you have that others are not so fortunate to have? How
are you called to be a responsible steward of your gifts, and share
them with others?
“Not all of us can do great
things. But we can do small things with great love.”
–
Mother Teresa of Calcutta
