“If you don’t stop and wait for me, I’ll turn around and go home.” Those fateful words burst from my lips, as a new bride. I was in unfamiliar territory and being pulled downstream in a river of Koreans at Kimpo International Airport- Seoul, S. Korea. My husband was oblivious to my peril as he strode confidently in the other direction. Finally, they reached their intended target. He stopped, turned around, and scanned the crowd, looking for his bride. It couldn’t have been too difficult; I was the only non-Korean. Walking toward me, he said, “You would go back?” That is how our marriage began, and I have been chasing him ever since.

We recently attended a wedding in St. Louis. Stepping out of the car, I reminded myself to stay on his six or be left behind in his wake. He was back in his element at the airport, maneuvering through a sea of humans dragging luggage. For thirty-three years, this was his playground, navigating the skies and airports of the world. Instinctively, he shifts into autopilot the minute he crosses the airport threshold and is unaware he does this. It could be compared to me in a chocolate shop on a smaller scale. Instantly, he enters the world of on-time departures and destination orientation. 

Rarely do we get to sit together on a plane, so I opened dialogue peeking out the window. Is that Utah or New Mexico below us?  He quickly looked and said, “Didn’t you notice the big right turn we made after take-off? (He thinks I notice things; how cute.) It’s New Mexico.” 

Silly me, of course it is.

I was reminded of when I took one of our daughters to Orlando to start work. We arrived in plenty of time before the flight and filled the extra hour playing Sudoku. The gate was filled with passengers going to Newark. The next time I looked up, the gate was empty, with no indication of the upcoming Orlando flight. A quick look at the board revealed that our gate had moved across the airport. We ran as fast as we could, arriving in time to be confronted by the gate agent stating she had paged us, and the flight had already left. Ugh! She went on to state that we should have known that the gate would be changed. Based on what?

I called my husband to commiserate and express my frustration. He said we should have known the gate was going to change. Again, based on what?

Clearly, I don’t speak airline.

I love the written word. It’s how I process and learn. One of the charisms that God has given me is writing. I love words joined together forming an extraordinary quote: “Selfishness is the enemy of love.” (Ven. F.J. Sheen). I write because I am inspired to share words uniquely linked together through the lens of my experiences in hopes they will relate to others in a common bond. 

Anne H. Burleigh writes, “…language is made up of words, which, if they are true words, signify the Word, the Son of God Himself…when our language reflects the Word, the eyes of our mind refocus with new clarity.”

Through the Word of God, words hold immense power. Lives transform, and the unimaginable becomes possible. By utilizing this gift entrusted to me by the Holy Spirit, I can partake in His magnificent plan and do His Will. This is what Pentecost is all about. I express gratitude for this gift by obediently using it, thereby glorifying the Giver, God.   

Discovering our spiritual gifts is a journey of self-reflection and discernment. It’s not about ticking off a list, but about understanding ourselves and the contribution we can make through them. You can start by checking out some of the online Catholic inventories including this resource. But remember, true discovery comes through prayer. Gifts must be discerned, which means trying them out and measuring their fruit. Do they do what they are intended to do? Have people shared the effects (fruit) of time spent with you? For instance, they might say, I always find clarity after talking with you. Once you believe you have a particular gift, keep sharing it with others. All those indicators help us learn how and with whom we are to use our gifts. 

We are gifted and given away each time we share our gifts. 

My husband has been an excellent leader and provider for our family, using his gifts to get us where we need to be safely and on time, even if we have to run to keep up.