The 4 C’s
I’ve been trying to reconcile these two axioms:
- that the amount of talent inherent at birth has been set;
- that a genius is 1% talent and 99% nurture.
(paraphrased from Thomas Edison’s famous quote)
The question in most of our minds is how important is talent when it is through effort that it is drawn out? But why is it that effort in itself cannot bring into effect what an extra bit of talent can?
It is very tempting to just push everything under the rug of human flaws and put the blame on something as vague as fate. I urge you not to, because that has led us to our mediocre existence despite the exciting hopes, dreams and truths we so cling onto.
Today, I postulate that talent is like a diamond (as cliche as it sounds). And in the diamond industry there is the Way of the 4 C’s.
Carat – unit of weight for the diamond
I believe that everyone has different amounts(carat) of talent. Is it a draw back? No. Just because a man is not talented enough to be a scientist, does not mean that he cannot be involved in the field of scientific research, albeit at a lower capacity. Talent does not dictate the value of a man’s existence, God does. But talent sets the bar for each individual to achieve and if so desired, to excel beyond.
Colour – color of the diamond
Your combination(colour) of talent has been preset the day you were born. You would not ask someone who has little talent in diplomacy to be a president. However, you would ask someone who has great kinetic skills to try carpentry. In this respect I’d like to quote Howard Thurman as an encouragement, “Ask not what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive… then go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
Cut – the proportions, finish, symmetry, and polish of the diamond
These factors determine the fire and brilliance of a diamond. Here Thomas Edison’s quote rings true. Effort is painful, yet not all effort benefits. As mentioned, it is the angle of the cuts that determines the amount of light refracted. Hence, make careful considerations as to what is worth your efforts. Apostle Paul says it ever so wisely in 1 Cor 10:23, “Everything is permissible – but not everything is beneficial.” (NIV)
Clarity - clearness or purity of a diamond
Strange as it may seem, your diamond, however big, exotic in colour or perfect in cut, is of little value if it lacks clarity. So what is clarity? It is your character. I’m sure you know a few talented people who are absolute snobs. What stands out? Their abilities? Sometimes. Their achievements? Sometimes. Their terrible character? ALL THE TIME, like a sore thumb. Character flaws can be in the form of internal blemishes, where our intentions are immature and selfish. But it can also be in the form of external inclusion, where cutting(effort) will suffice. An example of external inclusion would be bad eating etiquette, we don’t mean to be rude, we just didn’t know.
It is obvious after the above analogy, the two axioms first mentioned, as true as they are, hold no meaning for us. Even if they do, they serve as encouragements rather than limitations. Because none of us will ever know how much talent we actually have or even how much effort we have to put in. We only know that everyone has a certain amount(carat) of different(colour) talents and that we have to work(cut) on it while maintaining the purity(clarity) of our hearts.
So do not change the things that have been preordained by a wise and ever knowing God, but let’s work with whatever we have been blessed with and excel at being ourselves.
“For it is in one’s humanity, that one finds his/her function and place, and never the other way around.”
~ Cheng Yee
January 23rd, 2010 at 1:46 am
A very thought provoking post. Well done!
January 23rd, 2010 at 1:49 am
I thought I’d mention this. In school, my lecturer advocates the theory that there is no such thing as talent at all, but a person simply becomes good at something if he puts in enough time and effort into it. In other words, anyone can be a lawyer, doctor, singer, and so on. Everything is based on external factors.
I found the theory to be very disturbing. It seems to me a way of minimizing God’s work in the equation. If the concept of talent were, then it is more likely that there was a Giver of talents. Wouldn’t it be easier to just deal away with the whole concept of talents, than to wrestle with the idea of Creator God?
January 23rd, 2010 at 2:02 am
I think a consideration of your lecturer’s position would explain his thinking. I read about this situation in a recent music critique class. Your lecturer is speaking from the viewpoint of someone who HAS achieved something. Therefore he only sees what HE has done and not the talents that allowed his efforts to bear fruit.
Should he be in the position of a student who has exhausted himself to achieve a certain goal and still failed, he would likely think otherwise.
I would perceive his failure to understand talent as minimum quota of abilities rather than as a limitation to be his main problem. Since I’m assuming that he prefers to believe of talent being irrelevant as a means believe that anything is possible. In such a case, it is interesting to note that your observation that he’s ignorance of God serves to his disadvantage. As the previous statement “…believing that everything is possible” lacks two defining words – “through Christ”.
January 25th, 2010 at 9:06 am
Wah… you guys are getting more chim… This is great! Another thing about diamonds is that they are only produced under extreme temperature and pressure. If not, they just remain as graphite… =P