Credit

You have a gift, a passion, a calling, and someone recognizes it. They want to hear your thoughts and opinions, they want to learn, and grow; they want content to be added to their thoughts and opinions.

I have been on both sides of this equation. I seek people out that I can learn and grow from. That may be a mentor, a peer, or a student I get to interact with; regardless of who it is, I want to be surrounded by people to learn from. On the other hand, I, also, at time have been sought out to contribute to someone else's craft (see previous post).

Something that I have struggled with is this feeling that I want to contribute, I think I have good things to contribute, but I also fear that I am not good enough. Yes, I have studied hard in school, career, and life to make myself realize that I have a lot to say and is valid. I feel I have earned a right to be heard and am now excited to share that. However that doesn't mean that the person asking for those opinions has no voice. Quite the contrary, usually the person asking the questions has more to contribute than the one talking.

What I find so funny about Jesus and his life is that He never really gave anyone answered to anything. Instead, when He was asked a question, He would tell a story. When He wanted to get a point across, He didn't tell them what He wanted them to know, He posed a question for them to come to the conclusion on their own.

Men fought over who could sit at Jesus' right hand, an honorable place. Whoever was the wisest, the smartest, the most generous, the favorite, was seen to have won that spot. However, Jesus tells a story of a landowner who pays workers in his field. The man pays all the laborers the same amount regardless of how long they have worked. In the end the man calls out the laborers who criticize him for paying them the same amount as those "lower" or who had worked less by saying, "why does it matter that I am generous with those who worked less?...The first shall be last and the last shall be first." (Mark 20)

There is so much more than forgetting to give credit to someone when they ask your opinion. In that moment, Ashley, Allen, and Kyle gave me a sense of value. They asked me of all people to contribute to something they loved and worked hard on. They asked many questions, and I gave a lot of answers. However, what I took away from the experience, at first, was, well, excitement for wanting to be heard. As time has gone on, however, I am more honored by their invitation. They saw me as someone credible, and knowledgeable with a voice. In the moment I posted my selfie, I was focused on me, I had accomplished something new. However, I didn't acknowledge the people that saw and heard me and gave me a beautiful platform to use that voice. I saw myself as first, finally gotten to the front and was ready to get my reward for all of my hard work. In reality, I needed to see the opportunity that was given in humility as a gift. Lesson learned.

My friends at Min Max Podcast have had amazing adventures and lives. They are people that I seek to learn from. Two theologians and a photographer have an amazing platform to continue to give others a chance to use their voice by putting themselves in a place of learning when they have a guest. The last shall be first.

See you all on Monday,

Cheers,

Sam Jo.