Remember the parable of the talents? A wealthy man leaves his home for an extended period of time and gives to one of his servants a sum of money, 10 talents. He gives to a second, five talents and to a third, two talents. When he returns and demands an accounting,the first servant announces that he has doubled his investment and the second has done the same. The wealthy man is pleased and rewards them accordingly. The third, more timid, has buried the sum that was given him so that he would not lose it. This infuriates his employer who dismisses him.

We were reminded of this parable this week at a meeting of the Manhasset Rotary Club. The speaker was Alan Someck, manager of Millie's Place and a Great Neck resident. For the past three years Mr. Someck has run a Great Neck event based on the Special Olympics, pairing Great Neck students with people with various handicapping conditions for a day of sports, games and fellowship. He began the program because he felt his heart go out to these people and he wanted to encourage his own teenage children to give of themselves in a meaningful way.In encouraging his hearers to volunteer in one fashion or another, Mr. Someck gave this good advice: "Find out what touches your heart and give of yourself that way." It reminded me of the philosopher, Joseph Campbell's advice, "Follow your bliss."

There are so many talented people in our area and the talents are many and varied. People can play instruments, sing, dance, write, paint, garden, engage in just about every sport imaginable, teach, sell, or just be good companions. We can, of course, also pray for others if other activities are not for us. For every gift there is a need. Someone out there needs precisely what someone else has to offer. As the spring winds down into summer, the season of most volunteer action comes to a hiatus. It also gives us a chance to think about the future and of how we can put those talents to use.

E.F.B.