November 8th

I have just made a tidy profit of around seventy dollars or so. Yes, by the virtue of that internet based bazaar otherwise known as ‘eBay’ I was able to sell a couple of old toys, clear off a couple of shelves and make a little cash for my efforts. I have one more bit of ancient history to sell, and will get to it soon but then I AM NEVER GOING TO SELL ON EBAY AGAIN!
It wasn’t a horrible experience. I didn’t have a zillion problems, encounter nasty buyers or generally go through the hot place the devil calls home, but I didn’t have bags o’ fun, either. I did it, once, will repeat it once because of a promise I made to my kids, but I didn’t get such a thrill out of the experience that I just can’t live without doing it again.
On the whole, it was a pretty neat thing to do: it was interesting to learn the ins and outs of selling an item on eBay; I got quite a thrill watching folks outbid each other online; I enjoy having made a bit of money; I especially appreciate having cleared a little space in the basement but the greatest part of the whole experience is having tried something new, and deciding that I didn’t like it.
This might seem like a strange thing to say. Doing something without fully enjoying it and then claiming is was a good thing to have done may appear to be a contradiction in terms, but because it wasn’t a totally unpleasant thing to do, and because there was something learned from doing it, it makes sense that overall, it was worth trying. Now I can say without fear of contradiction that I know what it’s like to sell something on eBay and that my world will not be diminished when I don’t do it again.
In the world of faith, God has given us many choices. Each of us has more than one thing we can do and do well. This means we have a lot of options and avenues to choose from in serving our Creator. Not all of those options or avenues, however, are necessarily the right ones for us. That means it’s okay to say no to God every once in a while. Saying no to a choice doesn’t mean we reject or defy God; it means we are being careful and thoughtful to use our skills and talents in a way that best serves Him. It’s part of our self-discernment, part of that process of figuring out who and what we are and where we fit in. It’s part of learning how to listen to God and make sure that we’re hearing His truth, and not our own opinion. It’s also part of a healthy relationship to be able to say yes or no when appropriate.
There are many ways to serve, but they aren’t right for everyone. It’s worth trying new things, because that’s how we learn and grow, but there’s nothing wrong with choosing not to do it again. After all, it’s not like God has a shortage of ways we can serve. At least that’s the way I see it.