Do What You Do Best

Many of us suffer from a fear that what we do best isn't enough to make a significant difference. It's a condition similar to thinking the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence but on an exquisitely personal level. "If only I could be a writer. Then I could influence large groups of people", "Gee, I wish I was a doctor - then I could really help people", "Boy, I could really change things if I were the CEO." And on and on it goes. But the reality is that you can use the skills you have - no matter what they are - to bring about profound changes. There is a story in the Judeo-Christian tradition that speaks eloquently of this.

The Philistines had gathered their forces to do battle with the Israelites. Each army was gathered on a hill on the opposite side of a valley. The hero of the Philistines came into the valley each morning to taunt the Israelites. He was a huge man, standing 9 feet tall and wearing scale armor that weighed over 125 pounds. He challenged the Israelites to send one man down into the valley to fight him. The winner would claim the army of the defeated man as slaves.

The Israelites were afraid not only because this guy was intimidating, but also because they knew they were at a great disadvantage technologically. The Philistines had learned how to use iron to fashion weapons and the Israelites had not. That would be comparable today to an army using WWI technology to face a force with nuclear abilities.

Finally a small boy - about 14 years old - approached Saul, the commander of the Israelites, and convinced him to let him do battle with the giant. Saul reluctantly agreed but insisted that the boy wear his coat of armor and helmet into the battle. The boy, however, refused saying, "I can't go in these because I'm not used to them." Instead, he wore his simple cloth tunic and went into a stream bed to pick up five smooth stones to use with his sling.

As he descended into the valley, the giant began to mock and curse him. "Come close so that I can feed your flesh to the beasts of the field and the birds of the sky." Instead of being intimidated, the boy charged the giant, placed a stone into his sling and flung it into the warrior's forehead dropping him on the spot. Running to the giant's body, the small boy grabbed his sword, killed him and cut off his head. The Philistine army scattered and ran but was pursued and cut down by the Israelites.

As you've probably guessed by now, this is the story of David and Goliath. This amazing victory wasn't gained by superior technology. Not was it achieved by greater intellect. It was accomplished because someone applied a simple skill to a situation where it could be used to advantage. David was a shepherd who had honed his talent with a sling in order to protect his flocks from attack. When the opportunity presented itself, he applied his skill and changed the course of an encounter that affected thousands upon thousands of people.

I think it's important to note in this story that David didn't try to be someone he wasn't. He was offered Saul's armor, but he refused saying, "I'm not used to them." He went into the challenge as the simple shepherd that he was. Not as someone who felt he needed an advantage that could be obtained by using something else to prop him up.

The Universe builds talents and skills into people that are designed to be used in their lives. And these gifts, both those that are "hardwired" in and those that are only developed through hard work, are many and diverse. We would do well to remember that it was not a genius, a king, or a gifted warrior that slew the giant. It was a simple shepherd boy who applied his gift.