Something to Ponder Pick of the Week, Tuesday July18, 2006 written by David Allsbrook

Julie and I recently visited Linville Caverns. On the tour we saw all kinds of trout swimming in the streams that run through the caves. Our guide shown her flashlight directly on the heads of these fish and, oddly enough, they did not move. The presence of the light had no effect on them. She went on to explain to us that the fish living in the caverns live in a phenomenon called "total darkness". To be in total darkness means absolutely no light is present, the only time the true color black can be seen.

There are only two places on earth that total darkness can be experienced, deep inside a cave, or in an ocean abyss. Since no light is present, nothing can be seen. The trout in the caves loose their sense of sight because they do not use it. When they are born, these fish are well able to see. Once their sense of sight is lost though, it does not return.

Each of has been entrusted with gifts and talents from God. Sometimes discovering our talent is not as easy as opening our eyes, but we will always find it if we look. Once our talent has been discovered, it is up to us to use it the way God intended. Like the trout, if we put ourselves in a place where we either can’t or won’t use our gifts, they will eventually be taken away from us. In everything you do and everywhere you go, always be asking yourself how your gifts can be used. By using the gifts we are given we worship the one who gives them to us and can take them from us.