Everyone has a skill. Every skill is important.

by Ashley Elizabeth Petryshyn

I whole heartedly believe that old saying 'everything happens for a reason.' I also think that inspiration can hit you anytime anywhere and sometimes when you are first introduced to something you have no idea how much it will mean to you later. I was a university student on reading week break in 2008 when I went to visit my boyfriend in Lethbridge. We were walking around downtown Lethbridge trying to decide on somewhere to go and grab supper. We were both musicians so we stopped at a place called The Slice when we heard really awesome music coming from inside. 

We walked inside and that’s the first time I heard the singer song writer named Craig Cardiff. I instantaneously  fell in love. Craig was selling albums after his show, and even though we had only caught the last two songs of his set, that was enough for me to know I had to get my hands on everything he had put out. I bought 4 albums from him that night and actually made my boyfriend go home early so I could listen to them. I have been told things that touch you in your life will speak differently to you at different points on your journey, this I have learnt to be true. I have collected many things over the years, and besides my closest friends and favorite Bible verses I have kept three of Craig's songs very close to my heart. All three have meant very different things to me over the last 7 years, which I think is such a cool thing about songs and even Bible readings. Depending on where you are on your walk of life things will speak to you based on what you need. 

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That is the best way to share a talent I think. Unapologetically being yourself and acting from your heart. 

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Craig has a song called Dirty Old Town and that one I have listened to everyday since I first heard it. This is how it goes;

Dirty old town, dirty old town,
they've got all your little problems clearly written down.
You don't even know, don't even see
the butterfly that you're going to be,
the butterfly that you are becoming.

All the road, all the miles,
hair goes grey, eyes stay wide.
Come to bed, turn off the lights
fall asleep inside. You’re the one,

you're the one.
Hearts grow into hearts until hearts become one.
You’re the one, you're the one.
i carry you heart in my heart sung with every song.

Poised with grace in this poisoned place.
How you ever manage to keep it off your face.
You don't even know, don't even see
the butterfly that you're going to be,
the butterfly you are becoming.

This has been my song while my best friend died, while I fell in love, while I moved, fell out of love, went on vacation, prayed, and danced, so many things for the last 7 years. I think of myself as the butterfly in this song. I don't know who I'm becoming, and I don't know who I'm going to be. But it is okay, everyone is a work in progress! I owe some of my inspiration to Craig’s gifts.

I believe that everyone is put on this earth with a gift. Some kind of gift to help others. If you are a person who puts a specific skill to use, right down to customer service to help someone, that is a gift. I think in Craig’s case he found what he was passionate about gave his music as his gift to the world. I have been to many Craig Cardiff shows in an array of venues, and it always just him and his guitar. They are always the most authentic shows I see. Just a really talented man singing his heart out. That is the best way to share a talent I think. Unapologetically being yourself and acting from your heart. 

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 I have been told things that touch you in your life will speak differently to you at different points on your journey, this I have learnt to be true.

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When you wake up in the morning what do you look forward to? Where does your daily inspiration come from? Is it from something in particular or is it something that you get to do? I find inspiration from small things in my daily life. Sometimes it's colors, things in nature, people laughing. I have a gratitude journal I write in every night before I go to sleep and I am starting to see most of my inspirations come from readings I do, music I hear or sometimes make, and the people in my life. I am a very blessed girl when you sit down and look at it. I am inspired everyday to live my life to the fullest and I owe that to so many factors.

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

I want everyone to know that they have a talent within them that they are meant to share with the world. Not everyone is meant to hold a stage on their own. Maybe you have the talent of amazing production skills. Everything builds of something to make it greater. Everyone has a skill. Every skill is important. God has taught us we all have gifts to give. Where does your inspiration come from? What gifts are you going to share?

* Dirty Old Town lyrics used with the permission of Craig Cardiff.