The Commision-Sent

I am an introvert in an extrovert’s body. When I was a little girl, I was always hiding behind a book. At family gatherings I could be found curled up on my grandmother’s loveseat engrossed in a story while my cousins played around me and my aunts and uncles talked over my head. But, with a father who was almost always the center of attention, who excelled at public speaking, leading people and negotiating deals, I found that I could get his attention and approval when I did the same. When chosen by a teacher to narrate the Christmas play because I was a good reader, I covered my nerves, spoke clearly and calmly and earned accolades from family and teachers. And the tension began. It led me to serve our local community theater behind the scenes as prop mistress and on the stage as an actress. In college, I was master of ceremonies for several academic programs, and in my career, I balance public speaking with days spent researching in dusty books. They say you can figure out if you are an introvert or an extrovert by where you get your energy. Quietly alone or entertaining a crowd. Though I can do both, my preferences prove I am an introvert. Tomorrow, I will be attending my first big arts and crafts show. This is a coming out of sorts as the arts community will be there to see, critique and hopefully buy my glasswork. Up until now, I placed my pieces in galleries and let them do the selling, but they charge a steep commission in return for being the middleman. With this sale, I will have to do the work of securing the deal. I am very nervous about that, but with no commission to pay, I can my prices a little lower. That may be a good negotiating tool, but I will still have to reel the customers in. I have a high goal of how much money I want to make. It is the equivalent of a year’s support for two children at the Malnutrition Center in Guatemala. Like the Israelites who brought their first fruits to the temple to return a portion of how God blessed them, I have committed to giving everything I earn tomorrow to the center. Because I believe in the work there, I will rely upon the extrovert inside me with God’s help to do it. No matter if we are an introvert or an extrovert, Jesus tells us, as believers, what we must do. We are to go, to tell, to train and to teach about God throughout the world. I think it is interesting here that Jesus places a commission upon our lives. Just like I pay a shopkeeper a percentage of my sales, our willingness to share the gospel gives back to God in gratitude for what He has done for us. When it comes to God’s commission, there are no excuses. Pay the commission. Go and tell.

If you live near Manatee County and want to come to the show, here is the information:

http://palmettoartcenter.com/  Click on the image of “Made Here”.