Highway to Happiness

Discovering our gifts, our talents and our happiness

01/15/2019

1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20 During the time young Samuel was minister to the LORD under Eli, a revelation of the LORD was uncommon and vision infrequent. One day Eli was asleep in his usual place. His eyes had lately grown so weak that he could not see. The lamp of God was not yet extinguished, and Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was. The LORD called to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am.” Samuel ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.” “I did not call you,” Eli said. “Go back to sleep.” So he went back to sleep. Again the LORD called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli. “Here I am,” he said. “You called me.” But Eli answered, “I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep.” At that time Samuel was not familiar with the LORD, because the LORD had not revealed anything to him as yet. The LORD called Samuel again, for the third time. Getting up and going to Eli, he said, “Here I am. You called me.” Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth. So Eli said to Samuel, “Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’” When Samuel went to sleep in his place, the LORD came and revealed his presence, calling out as before, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel answered, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” Samuel grew up, and the LORD was with him, not permitting any word of his to be without effect. Thus all Israel from Dan to Beersheba came to know that Samuel was an accredited prophet of the LORD.

Dr. Hollenbeck said something yesterday to the 6th graders visiting Trinity that I wish you all could have heard. I am paraphrasing slightly but essentially she encouraged those future 7th graders to be fearless in trying different activities in junior high, like sports, quiz bowl, drama, dance, altar server, ambassador, cheer and now soccer, etc. And I am so proud of all you students who have jumped into new activities with both feet. Why did she say that? Well, because they might be surprised by what they are good at; they might discover a hidden talent they were ignorant of, like perhaps many of you have already.

And do you know what you feel when you do something that you’re really good at? You feel joy, deep and lasting happiness that no one can take away from you. It’s like that old saying: “When you do what you love, you will never work a day in your life.” I love being a priest, and I feel like I have been on vacation for the past 23 years! In other words, Dr. Hollenbeck was inviting those 6th graders to find the fast road to happiness and the most fulfilling life possible.

Let me give you three tools you can use to build on the foundation Dr. Hollenbeck laid yesterday. That is, how do you discover your hidden talents and enjoy the happiest life possible? First, you ask the One who made and created you, namely, God. You ask in prayer with your lips and you listen with your heart to his answer. Since God made you, he knows you better than anyone (even better than you know yourself), and he knows what he made you for. An architect of a house knows every detail and design feature of his building, and that’s how God knows us, and he knows best what talents he has blessed us with.

In the first reading, it took little Samuel three tries to learn to listen to God to find his hidden talent to be a prophet. But what happened after he discovered his gift in prayer? We read: “Samuel grew up, and the Lord was with him, not permitting any word of his to be without effect.” Samuel found deep joy in doing what God made him for. I bet he felt like he never worked a day in his life as a prophet. It was pure joy.

The second tool is to ask other people, like your parents, your teachers, your coaches, your friends, and yes, even your priests. Other people see things in us that we can often miss ourselves. Sometimes we have an exaggerated opinion of ourselves and think we’re better than we are. Some boys think they are God’s gift to women. I’m sure we don’t have any boys that think that here at Trinity. On the other hand, we may be too hard on ourselves, and think we are no good at anything. Both views are mistaken. Other people, however, especially trusted adults – can help us see our true selves, and also help us find our hidden talents and treasures.

You know, I keep wishing that poor Claire Schluterman had been able to hear her family and friends say how special she is so she didn’t have to take that sad final step of her life. In other words, discovering our talents and abilities is not only the fast road to happiness; it is also a useful way to avoid depression and sadness.

And thirdly, ask your race or ethnic background about your talents and strengths. What do I mean? Have you noticed how people from some parts of the world or certain cultures tend to be good at certain activities? By the way, I recently saw this hilarious video on Youtube by a Mexican comedian named “Fluffy,” who satirizes how Indian people (like me) are so hard working and so nice that they could never rob a bank. It’s hilarious and I hope you watch it. Without being rudely racist or sound stereotypical, I believe each race and ethnicity on earth possesses certain gifts and talents, and if you belong to a certain race, you, too, maybe blessed with that gift.

By the way, that’s one reason I love the cultural diversity here at Trinity, and I’m so pleased we celebrate those differences. That only means we are able to tap into more gifts and talents and make our school better than ever. Many of you are a mix of cultures, which is okay, too, because you can choose from any of them and tap into their riches. When you learn the history of your heritage you are learning how to drive on the highway to happiness.

Boys and girls, more than anything else, we here at Trinity want you to be supremely happy. One essential ingredient in the recipe of human happiness is finding your gifts and talents, like Dr. Hollenbeck suggested yesterday. To do that, ask God who made you, ask others who love you, and ask the heritage your spring from. Then, you too will love what you do, and never work a day in your life.

Praised be Jesus Christ!