To see the origin of this post, go here. Today, I continue to lay out a positive vision for what I would like my community and nation to become.
I envision a community in which the gifts of all community members are identified, valued, and their sharing is encouraged.
One of the few images or analogies from my Christian upbringing that I still value is the idea of a “body of giftedness.” St. Paul wrote of this when reminding his readers that they are all part of one body and, like a body, each has a different function, a different gift—and NO function, no gift is any less important than another. And while certain gifts might be valued more than others if all members were that one thing, the body could not function. He even said to value the less esteemed gifts.
Paul’s message was clear: everyone contributes, and everyone’s contribution should be encouraged and valued.
In every job I have had, I have sought to identify my colleagues’ giftedness. In the few short years I served in city government, I made it my mission to watch for, call out, and support the gifts and talents of everyone I worked with: my city council colleagues, staff, and citizens.
I have learned a few things in applying Paul’s analogy to daily life.
First, far too many people go through life feeling more like an interchangeable cog than an essential part of a healthy body. They simply believe they do not matter and have nothing to contribute.
Second, for these people and even those who don’t feel that way, naming what you see in their contributions is a huge encouragement and can help them continue to give of themselves to support the community.
Third, we are enamored with certain gifts and are likely to name and value them more than others. Reading Paul, this seems to be part of the human condition. But Paul warned against this and told his readers to value all gifts because all are necessary.
Finally, naming gifts has generative power—like discovering a hidden treasure. Naming is a creative act that can change the course of relationships and people’s sense of who they are.
Identifying and naming gifts is an essential part of nurturing a thankful community. I remember a community Thanksgiving gathering at which I was invited to speak. I chose the theme of being thankful for the people in my life and named names and gifts. Then, I had community members present, write the gifts they had received from others on note cards, and present them as an offering to the community.
The outpouring of thanks for the giftedness of others in our community was breathtaking. That evening was one of the most encouraging of my life.
James Coleman wrote of social capital in his writings in the early 1990s. To Coleman
(S)ocial capital is some aspect of the social structure and its facilitates or in some cases permits actions that would be more difficult or impossible in its absence. (1)
This is how I view gifts. They are part of our social structure in that everyone in our community has them. To the extent that we can name and encourage them, we open the door to collective action for the good of the whole “body” that would otherwise be difficult or impossible.
We need each others’ giftedness to co-create the kind of community we want and need.
(1) Coleman, James S. (1990). Foundations of Social Theory. Cambridge, MA: The Bellknap Press of Harvard University Press.
Traveling at the Speed of Bike 
again great words Robb, identifying giftedness in others, valuing others, name the valuable contributions of others and being thankful.
enjoying reading your always so insightful commentairies. I recall bringing in you, Dr. Sarriot, RDK and Esther, Samba, Aly Babyly, Brahim O Bate, then more great people in WARO, then doing it again in Denver, then in Cambodia, back again in Ouaga;
Has always been my greatest pleasure to find talent, value each person, position them and teams for success and then watch things flourish.
Here’s to a more inclusive, equitable and thankful post 5 November. Moving forward.
live big, dream bigger, love always and our words make our worlds.