Also, when he said: There are varieties of gifts, to one is given the word of wisdom, to another the word of knowledge. And also when he said: To every one of us is given grace, according to the measure of the donation of Christ. And further, where he said: That we may know the things that are given us by God. He saith that every one hath his gift of God: For to every man that shall be saved is given a grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it is speedful that we know the gifts that are given us by God, that we may work in them, for by those we shall be saved, as some by bodily works, and by deeds of mercy, some by great bodily penance, some by sorrow and weeping for their sins all their lifetime, some by preaching and teaching, some by divers graces and gifts of devotion shall be saved and come to bliss. (John Climacus)

When I was a child - perhaps nine years-of-age - I prayed that I might not lose the eyes of a child, the ability of children to see what others miss and imagine even more.

God heard my prayer and extended this gift. It has been a wonderful gift. It also has its challenges. What I see, many do not. What I imagine is not understood by most.

I have not always found the skills of description or motivation, or the personal discipline, to complement God's gift of creative perception. Opportunities are lost, potential is unrealized.

The distance between what is and what could be is sometimes daunting. But that distance is also full of interesting people, puzzles to solve, lessons to learn, and the unfolding of God's love.

I did not pray for success. I prayed for eyes to see and the ears to hear. It is a wonderful world to see and hear. Dear God, whatever my sins and failures, may I be increasingly enthusiastic.

LL enthūsiasmus, Gk enthousiasmós, equiv. to enthousí ( a ) possession by a god (énthous, var. of éntheos having a god within, equiv. to en- en-2 + -thous, -theos god-possessing + -ia y 3 ) + -asmos, var., after vowel stems, of -ismos -ism