Our holy Fathers heretofore taught us that we should know the measure of our gift, and therefore to work upon it, and according to it, and not take upon us, out of our head or imagination, to have more in our feeling or ability than indeed we have. We may ever desire the best, but we may not ever work the best or our utmost, because we have not yet received that grace and ability. A hound that runneth after the hare only because he seeth other hounds run, when he is weary, he stayeth and resteth, or turneth home again; but if he run because he seeth or is in view of the hare, he will not spare for weariness till he have caught her. (John Climacus)

What is my gift?

I see opportunity where others do not. I see connections where others do not. I have some skill in applying connections to advancing opportunity.

Sometimes - usually for a short time - I am able to motivate others to see the same opportunities and connections.

But if opportunity is my "hare," I have often run past weariness and still not caught it. I have experienced the deficit of grace and ability that impedes achievement of the best desire.

I look forward to reading what Climacus has to counsel.

The image is by the contemporary artist Roger Ewers.