The parable about talents is not really about talents. Literally, talents (in the context of the parable) are a measure of silver. Therefore, we can confidently say that this parable is about money, quite literally. Symbolically, it is a parable about possibilities, the possibilities to do good.

Why not about talents, in the understanding of natural abilities? Because talents are only one of the opportunities to do good.

Before a person using the given opportunities (for good), new possibilities are revealed. However, a person neglecting these given opportunities is left with nothing.

What can be considered as opportunities? For a better understanding, opportunities can be divided into external and internal.

External opportunities are favorable circumstances that miraculously come together to enable you to create acts of kindness. For instance, a relative of yours becomes wealthy and provides you with money for education and the pursuit of your talents. Or, someone approaches you and says, "I'm homeless, haven't eaten in a while, buy me some food." And you buy food for the homeless person because what is that if not a good deed?

Internal opportunities are those that we create ourselves. For example, if you don't have a wealthy uncle, you have to work hard. Or, instead of waiting for a homeless person to come to you asking for food, you choose to volunteer on weekends.

The distinction between internal and external opportunities is somewhat conditional. If we think about it a little more, we see that the opportunities we create with our own forces are also only possible with those forces. For instance, you work hard, and you can do it because you have the strength, skills, and other capabilities to perform such tasks.

Thus, what I referred to as external are more obvious opportunities, while internal ones are less obvious and more complicated. The ability to learn is an opportunity, having time to volunteer is an opportunity. After all, you have hands, legs, and a brain; life itself is a wonderful opportunity given from birth.

Yes, I know that not everyone has hands, legs, sight, hearing, or high intellectual abilities. But this is another reason why we cannot afford to devalue any of the possibilities. Many successful people became so not because they had a high IQ or robust health; they used their minds and strengths to the extent possible, despite someone else being more gifted.

Certainly, some will say, "It's unfair that one child grows up in a wealthy family and another in an orphanage." But who said the world is fair? If everything in the world were fair, what could humanity expect, having poisoned this planet with oil and gas?

Yes, unequal conditions are unfair. But one should worry not about fairness but about unrealized opportunities. Many from poor families grow up more successful and kinder than those from wealthy ones because they use their opportunities to the fullest.

What about a person who doesn't have a talent, or hasn't found or developed it yet? Talent or abilities in something are just one of many possibilities. There are plenty of others. You may not be a brilliant designer or a business shark, but everyone is capable of doing good deeds.

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