It appeared to be in perfect condition.
Behind my son’s school is an empty play area where broken equipment lives. At the very back is a slide, which appeared to be in perfect condition. I wondered why the school didn’t use it on another piece of equipment.
Seeing the slide made me think about people who are in spiritually broken zones. Many believers—who have perfectly good talents, abilities, and gifts—have stopped using them. For whatever reason, they park themselves in the broken equipment zone.
Maybe they were offended or mistreated. Or told they had nothing to offer. Maybe they got tired or overloaded. Perhaps other responsibilities got in the way. Or they convinced themselves they were no good and stopped offering themselves to God.
Imagine the joy that slide once brought when it was used on the playground. I can see the faces of smiling children as the slide fulfilled its designated purpose. Imagine what these believers were like when they served by using their gifts. They shared with those around them and smiled as they fulfilled their designed purpose.
Just because we are in the broken zone doesn’t mean we are useless. Our gifts, talents, and abilities might be a little rusty, but someone somewhere can benefit from their use. Even if we are more limited now than we once were, we can offer something. Volunteer. Pick up that instrument. Build that ramp. Cook that meal. Write that card. Save that life.
Whatever you choose to do, move away from the broken zone. Connect yourself with a body of believers and offer your gifts and talents back to God. Don’t be a lonely slide in the broken zone anymore.
(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)
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Christy Bass Adams is a mother of two boys. She uses her past classroom experience to teach future educators at Saint Leo University and at North Florida College. Christy serves as the Outreach and Connections Coordinator of Fellowship Baptist Church in Madison, Florida. She also writes a weekly inspirational column in Greene Publishing and maintains a regular blog. When she isn’t teaching or writing, you can find her sitting by the fire, wetting a line in the river, or spending time with her boys. For more from Christy, visit her blog: www.christybassadams.com.