1st Presbyterian Church Coeur d'Alene ID
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Happy Little Trees

4/25/2023

3 Comments

 
These days when you scroll through social media you are bound to see “memes”, which are pictures with various captions that are meant to be funny, make a point, or share a quote. Some of them even seem to know what you watched on TV last, or what you had for dinner the night before.

Lately, my media feed is running a quote by artist/teacher Bob Ross. Bob states: “Talent is a pursued interest”. In other 
Picture
Tyler Renninger
words, anything you are willing to practice, you can do. The full quote is much funnier, with Ross saying: “That’s just baloney” to those who believe they don't have the talent to paint those “happy little trees”.

My point is, in both middle school and high school, I was told how good at math I was, but I really didn’t care about math that much. Music was my passion. However, when I auditioned for the Lionel Hampton School of Music at the University of Idaho, I didn’t make the cut. I had to enter without a declared major, take lessons from a graduate student, then audition again for the second semester. Along the way, I failed some of my core music classes, so I took them again. My saxophone professor made the comment that I showed I belonged by demonstrating my interest and persistence. I pursued my passion. I persisted even though it wasn’t easy and I achieved my goals.

Will I be as persistent when God calls me or is that desire and persistence God’s calling? Does God provide natural talent, or is it the desire to pursue an interest that drives me? I think it is both, a life full of drawing our own happy little trees.

​In His Name, Tyler
3 Comments
Chris Fehr
4/25/2023 03:40:42 pm

Thanks Tyler for sharing! I am so glad you persisted and followed your dream. You have enhanced the lives if all your students and all of us at Church!!

Reply
Carolyn Keefer
4/26/2023 04:06:37 am

Look at all the people you have touched because you pursued your dream... students and adults! Thank you for sharing these words AND your talents!

Reply
Marcy
4/27/2023 03:33:36 am

You have many talents…including writing this devotional! Your journey of perseverance is and will be inspiring to others. Thank you for sharing.

Reply



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 First Presbyterian Church | 521 E Lakeside Ave | Coeur d'Alene | ID  83814
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  • Home
    • Connect With Us >
      • Prayer Request
      • eNews Archive >
        • 2020 eNews Archive
  • Who We Are
    • Leadership & Staff >
      • Job Opportunities
      • Blogs >
        • Blog Archive 2021 >
          • Our Mission
          • Blog Archive 2020
    • Elders, Deacons & Ministry Teams
    • History >
      • Barb McPland Clothing Giveaway
      • Keefer's Cabin
      • Past Ministers
    • What Presbyterians Believe
    • Annual Reports
  • Ministries
    • Family Ministry >
      • Nursery
      • Children
      • 1st Pres Youth
      • Family Connections
    • Missions
    • Serve >
      • Choir >
        • Special Music Archive
      • Church Ministry Teams
      • Ecumenical Kitchen
      • Family Promise
      • Handbell Choir
      • Knitting for Warmth
      • Praise Team
      • Reception Team
    • Grow >
      • Book Studies
      • Men's Fellowship
      • Presbyterian Women
      • Sermon-based Small Groups
      • Sunday Bible Study
      • Women's Circles
  • Sundays
    • Contemplative Worship
    • Classic Worship
    • Sermons
  • Giving
  • Calendar