Nicola Tesla, Ella Fitzgerald, Michael Phelps, or Me?
Written by Rev. Dr. Scott Paczkowski
“Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. ”
Genius comes in many forms. Leonardo had the unique ability to “freeze frame” an object in motion, providing visual observations that others did not possess. Michelangelo had perfect hand/eye coordination, which allowed him to draw precise lines that created the outline for his awe-inspired works of art. Nicola Tesla had an eidetic memory that allowed him to study quickly and learn more than his contemporaries, allowing him to advance the Scientific inquiry of his time. Perhaps you are like Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Stevie Wonder, who were blessed with hereditary perfect pitch.
This list can make you feel insignificant if you are like me and don’t receive these unique qualities. It feels more than a little unfair. According to Dr. Craig Wright, Ph.D., in his book The Hidden Habits of Genius, physical traits people are born with provide a few people with the ability to be world-class athletes while most others are not capable of keeping up. For example, swimmer Michael Phelps “was born with an ergonomic advantage: he was the perfect height for swimming (six feet, four inches), has atypically big feet (flippers), and possesses unusually long arms (paddles). This giftedness isn’t just available to the tall. Simone Biles, the greatest gymnast, is four feet eight inches tall and densely muscular. “As a result, she can stay tightly tucked in twists and flips, thereby maintaining speed.”
So many aspects of life are beyond our control. I am a 5’9” guy who wasn’t blessed with an eidetic memory or dense muscles. Darn! Thankfully, not every road to productivity or success requires a unique ability beyond our control. The most important aspect of our life is our faith. Without a relationship with God, life becomes nihilistic. Thankfully, God does not require us to remember everything we’ve ever read, sing with perfect pitch, or be the ideal size to do triple backflips into a swimming pool and then swim fast.
Today, offer a prayer of thanksgiving for the blessing of God’s inclusivity of all people. God loves and responds to us each in our unique way. If our attention span is short, God doesn’t require us to meditate nine hours per day. Instead, we experience a loving God who meets us where we are and nurtures us with grace. We may never be famous for some form of physical prowess, but we can participate with God in transforming our world. Of course, working side-by-side with God for eternity is better than an Olympic medal anyway!
