We’re back for another installment of free write known as Five Minute Friday.

I hope you make it a habit to follow — and join us. It’s really a fun way to see how your mind reacts to a one word prompt and converts it into letters, words and sentences in just five minutes (more or less). But more important, it’s the encouragement we give to and get from our fellow writers that makes this such a valuable exercise. We get to “know” each other, support each other, lift each other up, pray for each other. It may not be in real life … but it’s certainly in real heart. It’s not just a writing group. It’s a community.

As an example, to entice you to check us out, I’ve also been sharing some of the experiences my fellow writers have shared as chronicled in Five Minute Friday: A Collection of Stories Written in Five Minutes Flat. This week, I’ll include the words contributed by Jodi. I hope her words inspire you to join our writing club.

“I may not be the most consistent FMF writer, in fact I can go months without posting at times. It is always in the background for me. Whenever I am stuck in my writing and need a kick-start, I go back to it. The prompts get me thinking differently. The time limit isn’t overwhelming. I am working on the not editing as I go part! It is always a good boost that often gets me writing again in dry spells.”

Our leader, Kate Motaung, sums it this way. “If you haven’t participated before, this week is a great time to give it a try! All you have to do is free write for five minutes flat. Even if you decide to write in a journal and keep the words to yourself without sharing with anyone, it’s a great exercise to stretch those writing muscles.”

After posting, we link with our fellow writers  on Facebook. That’s the fun part!

This week’s prompt is TALENT. The timer has been set, so it’s time to GO…

America’s Got Talent. You Have Talent. I Have Talent.

Ours may not be flashy or show worthy, but it is a talent nonetheless. In fact, our talent is more impressive than dog tricks, ventriloquism, magic, dancing, singing, gymnastics or creative storytelling because it is God-given. All of our talents — whether it’s putting our word on paper, coordinating schedules, math acumen, science acumen, cooking, cleaning, sewing, crafting or running a multi-million dollar company or a household — have a purpose, an eternal purpose.

We all have talent. It was ingrained in our DNA at the moment of conception by the Creator. Our task as we grow and age is to figure out what to do with that talent, how to use that talent to the glory of God, how to let His Light shine.

I am reminded of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 12:12-27) , this passage starting with  There is one body, but it has many parts... and concludes with … You are the body of Christ. Each one of you is a part of it. So, … STOP

… we need the butcher and the baker and the candlestick maker. We need the preacher and the teacher and kids at the desks and people in the pews. We need the evangelists and the missionaries. We need the up front performers and the behind-the-scene craftsmen.

And we need each one of us and our individual talents not for our glory or gain, but for the Kingdom. You are the body of Christ. Each one of you is a part of it.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light. — Plato