Get cape. Wear cape. Fly.

Recently someone gave me a greeting card that was meant to represent a small milestone in my life – one more year with the company where I work. The message on the front of that little card resonated so within my heart that I put a picture of it on my office wall. 

Some people seem to breeze through all three steps of this superhero process. They understand their gifts, develop them, and use them to fulfill their life’s mission. They seem to know from a young age exactly what they want to be when they “grow up” and plan their life accordingly. They are contented, stable, and successful.

Me? I am just now getting to step two.

I have always known I was given the gift of music. Singing and playing the piano came naturally to me at a very young age, but I never pursued a life’s work in this field. Other interests I find particularly easy and inviting are creative writing, education, accounting, and business management. These fields all have the potential to generate income and lead to successful careers. All of them are about as natural to me as breathing, so I believe they correspond to giftings and personality traits put inside me by my Creator. Each of them is a “cape” I received, and tried on, but never wore or used to fly. Why is that?

Every time I put on a cape of expertise, the first thing I do is look in the mirror and begin to find fault with my reflection. By comparing myself to others, and noting the differences, I eventually convince myself that I am not good enough, young enough, smart enough, popular enough, or strong enough to fly in that cape. I take it off and try on a different one. This cycle has kept me paralyzed in front of the mirror for most of my adult life. And I have yet to experience the exhilaration of being able to “fly”.

All of us were given unique gifts and talents and abilities at birth that equip us for our purpose. The key word is “unique” which means comparison stills the wind beneath our cape and prevents us from soaring into the destiny to which we are called. Instead of gazing in defeat at the imperfect reflection we see while looking at others, we must realize we are absolutely perfect for our individual assignments. My cape will not fit you. Your cape was not made for me.

With this in mind, I am putting on my cape one more time. I will endeavor to wear it with confidence only in the One who made it. For this reason, I believe I will fly.

Come fly with me.