Suppose a coach takes the potential of a budding cricketer seriously. That means even if the player goes through a bad patch, the coach stands with them, providing facilities and opportunities to improve. But if the player doesn’t practice adequately or strive sufficently to improve, then they aren’t taking their potential seriously. 

We all have much potential that is untapped. When talking about potential, we usually refer to some material talent. Beyond such talents that vary from person to person, we all have the spiritual potential to evolve toward eternal life and love. We are all souls who are parts of God. We can direct our love toward him and thereby raise our consciousness to the spiritual level, where we can relish life and love everlasting. 

God takes our potential seriously in the sense that he always stays with us, through thick and through thin. The Bhagavad-gita (18.61) states that he accompanies us in our heart as the indwelling Supersoul, guiding our multi-life wanderings through material existence. Even if we live godlessly and senselessly, he still waits for us and works with us. 

Do we take our potential seriously? Sadly, not always. We often don’t put in the effort that is necessary for us to do justice to our talents. We lose heart too soon or we don’t put our whole heart into it in the first place. It requires commitment to translate talent into achievement. Even if someone has a huge treasure buried on the property they own, that treasure can’t enrich them if they don’t dig sufficiently. 

If we take our potential seriously and persevere through discouragement, with faith in God, we all can contribute more and achieve more than what we are currently doing. And more importantly, we all can develop an inner connection with God that can enrich us irrespective of the size of our outer contribution.  

Think it over:

  • How does God take our potential seriously?
  • How do we not take our potential seriously?
  • How can we take our potential seriously? What will be the result?

***

18.61 The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone’s heart, O Arjuna, and is directing the wanderings of all living entities, who are seated as on a machine, made of the material energy.

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