In our garden of the soul metaphor, seeds are our God-given abilities and gifts. Seeds possess the DNA and potential to become fruit, but they are not themselves the fruit. Likewise, our abilities and gifts have the potential to blossom into virtues, but they are not the same as virtues. 

The wider world celebrates talents. We value good talent. But I think sometimes we confuse gifts and talent for virtue and character. How often do we see very gifted people thrust into positions of leadership, but who lack virtue and good character? We perhaps need to evaluate our selection processes for leadership, whether we are assessing talent versus virtue. We can be born with gifts and talents. But virtues have to be cultivated over time. 

SEEDS - ONE THROUGH NINE

We are going to provide brief descriptions of nine types of gifts and abilities, each one corresponding to nine Enneagram numbers. We recommend reading this next session as a prayerful reflection exercise. Read each paragraph slowly and with an open heart, pausing for a minute or two before moving on to the next number/paragraph. During the pause, notice the thoughts and feelings that surface within you. Do you possess strength and gifting in this area? Do you feel freedom to express and contribute these gifts for the good of others? Do you feel attraction or aversion towards any of these seeds? Jot down notes in the space provided. We encourage you to approach this exercise with humility and openness. The Holy Spirit may be increasing awareness of God’s good gifts in our lives, so we can appropriately celebrate them with gratitude! On the other hand, the Holy Spirit may also increase awareness of good seeds that are currently quenched and be inviting a re-awakening of other seeds. We approach this exercise with humility, praying, “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening. Amen.”

ONE - Prophecy, Truth-telling, Seeing what’s wrong, Conviction

As God’s image-bearers, we possess the ability to distinguish right from wrong and have capacity to live a life of goodness and righteousness. ONE seeds pertain to the gift of prophecy, which can be understood as the special ability to see what is wrong in the world (or the ability to see what can be better) and to speak truth in life-altering and transformative ways. Those with strong ONE giftings often desire to live a life of integrity and desire to see greater goodness and justice in the world. They may be called as change agents in the world. 

TWO - Helps, Caregiving, Serving, Shepherding, Generosity

We were created with the capacity to love and to be loved. Part of what it means to be fully alive and fully human is to experience loving relationships with God and others. TWO seeds may refer to the ability to express love through active service and care of others and the willingness to put others’ needs above one’s own needs. Those with strong TWO gifts often possess sensitivity and understanding about people’s needs, and feel motivated to get into action to meet those needs.  

THREE - Leadership, Effectiveness, Productivity, Vision

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). We were created with the capacity to be productive and to get things done. THREE seeds refer not only to possessing vision for future outcomes, but also the ability to lead people and processes to get there. Those with strong THREE gifts are often effective leaders that enjoy motivating others to meet goals and to achieve results. 

FOUR - Zeal, Empathy, Expressing Emotions, Creativity, Arts

Being made in the image of God means we have capacity to feel a wide spectrum of emotions and to be creative. FOUR seeds may relate to our artistic and creative talents. They may also refer to our degree of emotional sensitivity and capacity to feel things deeply. They give us empathy, the ability to rejoice with those who rejoice and to mourn with those who mourn. 

FIVE - Intellect, Teaching, Discernment, Problem-Solving

As God’s image-bearers, we were created with the ability to reason, to rationalize, to acquire knowledge, to make thoughtful decisions, and to grow in wisdom. FIVE seeds pertain to our intellectual, analytical, and discernment gifts. Those with strong FIVE gifts are often excellent problem-solvers. They enjoy learning and will patiently research and gather information before coming to conclusions or making decisions. They may also possess teaching gifts because of above average abilities to gather data, to process and synthesize information, and to effectively articulate ideas in a way that others can understand. 

SIX - Attentiveness, Administration, Organization, Responsibility, Predicting Problems

We were created with the ability to not only pay attention to the data of our environment, but to also anticipate what’s coming in the future based upon those observations. SIX seeds pertain to our capacity for attentiveness and alertness. Those with strong SIX gifts are often alert to dangers, risks, and things that can go wrong. In other words, they have an eye for potential problems. This is also why many with SIX gifts are also good with administration. They’re attentive to details, can anticipate what will be needed for things to run smoothly, and then make appropriate preparations. This is what often makes folks with high SIX gifts excellent planners and organizers. 

SEVEN - Faith, Encouragement, Enthusiasm, Optimism, Seeing Possibilities

Made in God’s image, we were created with the capacity to experience fullness of joy. SEVEN seeds refer to the special ability to see with eyes of faith, to see possibility even in the midst of challenges and setbacks. Those with strong SEVEN gifts often exude positive energy, have a zest for life, and inject enthusiasm and encouragement to their communities.

EIGHT - Strength, Leadership, Courage, Tenacity

Made in God’s image, we were created with the capacity to exercise agency and to fight for ourselves or others. EIGHT seeds refer to strength and power, and our comfort wielding power or displaying strength. Those with strong EIGHT gifts are often strong and powerful leaders who are not easily intimidated or discouraged and can persevere through adversity. 

NINE - Calm Presence, Peacemaking, Diplomacy, Conciliation

Made in God’s image, we possess the ability to live at peace and harmony with God, with ourselves, and with others. NINE seeds refer to the gifts and talents that contribute to bringing peace and shalom to the world. Those with strong NINE gifts can bring a calm presence to stressful situations and conditions and engage in the challenging work of peacemaking, offer a spirit of conciliationm and be a voice of reason and understanding among conflicted parties. Peacemakers. 

Take a moment to survey your areas of greatest gifting. Imagine God joyfully planting good seeds in you as you were being formed in your mother’s womb, wonderfully and fearfully made.