Response

I often admire the courage of a musician, chefs, and artists.  Their visionary gifts are often measured, evaluated, and judged by their audience's response.  It is impossible to control how another person that holds freedom reacts.  Frankly, one may manipulate but then one knows the response is merely one's imagination playing out on a stage.  When one gives a gift without conditions or expectations to another, it is a unique opportunity for an honest response.  It takes great courage to take this step!  Anything can and often does happen.
I sat in the presence of a great chef, sharing it with friends.  I found myself caught up in childlike joy as one person gave the chef a standing ovation in the middle of a meal.  It was wonderful!  I sat caught in the musical spell of a blues band, wishing I could share it with others.  The audience knew we were experiencing something that uniquely happens with great truth filled live music.  One could feel the heart intensity in the audience's response.  It still lingers with me. In each case, we were responding to his and her gifts.
One man told a story, letting his experience, conviction, and vision spill out into the public domain.  Anything could happen!  He did not seem surprised when on “that day about three thousand took him at his word, were baptized and were signed up.”  (Acts 2.41)  It was his vision that allowed others to be a part of something wonderful. 
You and I may not be great musicians (I know that this is not one of my gifts).  I may not always be able cook safety or with great success.  Yet, I can do something.  I can take the truth I know, the vision of what I see, and leave it out in the open for others to experience.  Others may take it or leave it, embrace or criticize.  It really does not matter how they respond.  It matters that we give of our vision and dreams.  In our actions, we are responding to God's gift of being alive.