Each species has a unique way of fishing. The Master Creator designed Great blue herons with a long sharp beak that they use to spear fish out of the water before swallowing them whole.

Bald eagles can spot a fish from up to two miles away and use their combination of speed and accuracy to pluck their prey right out of the water.

Osprey, on the other hand, plunge into the water feet first and grip slippery fish with their powerful talons.

Spear, pluck, plunge. God designed each of these three birds of prey differently and provided them with different skills and abilities to achieve the same result.

Do you think a Great blue heron ever wishes he could pluck a fish like a Bald eagle? 

Does an Osprey desire the spearing abilities of a Great blue heron?

As I observe these incredible birds, I’ve never once seen a species pay more attention to a competitor rather than the task of catching a fish. They don’t look at the abilities of other species with envy and begin to doubt the skills that they were given.

I wonder then, why do we?

If we’re honest with ourselves, there’s probably been a moment when we’ve thought, “Why doesn’t God use me like He uses them? Why don’t I have their gift?”

Unfortunately, it’s human nature to be envious. As Jesus is speaking directly to Peter and admonishing him to feed His sheep, Christ reveals the horrific manner in which Peter will die and provides an individualized moment of instruction for Peter’s ministry: Love Christ, feed my sheep, and glorify God as you serve Him until you are called home.

Rather than focusing on this great calling in His life, Peter sees John and blabs out, “What shall this man do?” (John 21:21)

Seriously? The Son of God is speaking directly to Peter, correcting and encouraging him…and Peter is concerned about the guy next to him?

It’s almost as comical as it is sad. But then again, are we any different?

God can be speaking directly to our hearts, encouraging us to use the gifts that He has bestowed upon us and somehow we still find a way to look sideways and wish we had a different gift.

Paul explained that the “body is not one member, but many” (1 Corinthians 12:14).

The body requires each member to work to its full potential to function optimally. Likewise, we’re members of the body of Christ that require diverse gifts that are provided “according to the grace that is given to us” (Romans 12:6). That’s pretty incredible when you think about it. We receive individual gifts and talents because God loves us.

Moroni 10:8 exhorts that we “deny not the gifts of God, for they are many; and they come from the same God.” 

We aren’t all “pluckers” or “plungers.” Some are natural born leaders, some creative, some musical, some analytical…the list goes on and on. These may seem like natural abilities, but they can benefit the Church just as the gifts of healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues, etc.

Moroni continues “And there are different ways that these gifts are administered; but it is the same God who worketh all in all; and they are given by the manifestations of the Spirit of God unto men, to profit them.” (Moroni 10:8).

God didn’t design the heron, eagle, and osprey to compete with one another. He designed each one to fulfill its own purpose. The gifts that God has set aside for you are for His honor and glory to bring souls unto Him. There’s no reason to covet a spiritual gift or talent. The heron doesn’t need the eagle’s talons. The eagle doesn’t need the osprey’s fishing technique.

Christ responds to Peter’s “what about that guy” question with His own question and a directive:

What about you?

Follow me.

Rather than focusing on what someone else has, maybe we should be asking, “What can I do with what God gave me?”

Spear, pluck, plunge. Different gifts all provided by the Creator to benefit His creation.