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Songs Never Sung

"But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness."¹

Don Emmitte wrote, "One of the best autobiographies I have read is that of Loren Eisley, All the Strange Hours. Eisley is one of America's greatest naturalist and scientist. In his book he tells of an incident early in his academic training, in fact in his first English class of college. It was a traumatic experience, one which changed the direction of his life. In his first theme assignment, the professor called him to stay after class and said, 'You didn't compose this; it is written too well.' He had labored long and hard over the assignment, and it was indeed his work. But Eisley was shy. He did not talk back to his professor in those days. He simply turned away. He did not write another piece until well into his middle years.

"Oh, he did write, and distinguished himself as a writer of many letters, articles, and books. Who knows, however, how many articles, letters, or books were lost in those early years while he still labored under the curse of that professor's belligerent words. In fact he further writes in his book, that it was this experience that turned him from a career of literature and art to science. One wonders what might have been!"

I am sure that many of us can identify with Eisley's experience in one way or another. Sometimes discouraging feedback has a far greater impact on us than the positive feedback, especially if that negative feedback is untrue. However, God has equipped each of us with a special gift or gifts, and the more we exercise those gifts, the better we will be able to use them for His glory. The important part is to never give up, but instead ask God to lead us to people who will help us develop those gifts and continue using them! I am often reminded of Richard Innes, who was the founder of ACTS International. He experienced rejection when he began writing poems, but eventually that inspired him to write the following poem, which sold thousands of copies!

   Unsung Songs

   How many songs never sung,
   poems never written,
   pictures never painted,
   stories never told,
   romantic words never spoken
   locked inside a lonely heart—
   the prison of another's making—
   are left unexpressed
   because somebody
   shamed us,
   abandoned us,
   or perhaps silenced us
   with a cruel word,
   a thoughtless deed,
   and said or just implied
   we were not good
   or not quite good enough?
   And, tragically,
   we believed them.

            © Copyright, Dick Innes

Suggested prayer: Dear God, please give me discernment to always know what feedback to accept and apply, and which to ignore. Help me to use this feedback as a motivation to keep me growing and doing what You have put in my heart to do. I want to give you my best and use the gifts you've given me to bless others and bring them closer to you. Help me also be a giver of encouragement to others who are also using their gifts for your glory. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen.

1. Hebrews 3:13 (NIV).


Today's Encounter was written by: Crystal B.