You’ve heard “life is a gift.” Well this weekend I met this wonderful woman Maya who looks at this a bit differently.

For Maya, a gift is not something you’re obligated to do anything with except perhaps to treasure. At least for her receiving a gift does not require the same degree of attention and intention that receiving a loan does. For Maya, living your life calls for more than treasuring it in the way that you would a gift.

I think Maya is on to something. When you receive a loan there is an intention that you’re going to do something with the loan. There was a reason that you requested the loan, and there is an expectation from the person(s) granting it that you will be successful on that intention and that they will be rewarded for granting you the loan.

If you’re a spiritual or religious person perhaps you could look at your life as analogous to the loan, and your life’s purpose as the reason you were given the loan. For some people their life’s purpose is clear, and for many it takes some searching to find it. But find it we must, as without it we have no chance on returning the investment to whomever/whatever granted us the loan.

Reminds me of the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14 (I’m actually quoting the bible), where the master punishes the servant that did nothing with the one talent that was given him. Matthew 25:29 goes on to say “For everyone who has will be given more, and (s)he will have abundance. Whoever does not have, even what (s)he has will be taken from him (her).” I added the parentheses.

Hmmmm. Makes you think doesn’t it? Perhaps life is that talent in the parable. Some of us have one, some many, and we’re expected to use whatever we were given. You get to choose how or even if you use yours, but consider that you have an obligation to do something with it.

Thank you Maya for sharing your beauty and wisdom. Think of me the next time you’re enjoying your playful Margherita. 😉