My daughter, since the age of 3, has been obsessed with painting. Truth be told, she is amazing; but she becomes so involved in it that she is not able to make any meaningful friendships. Sometimes I wonder, can she really serve God with her artistic talents? Isn’t it just a distraction from that which is truly important?
It is a widespread belief within Torah thought that any special talent a person might be blessed with cannot only be used within the framework of a Godly life, but can actually become a tool to enhance His glory. See the writings of the 19th Century scholar, Rabbi S.R. Hirsch, one of whose recurring themes teaches how there is such variety among humans just to allow for a rich range of Divine service. The trick is to find an appropriate application of the talent in a way that not only conforms to the highest moral standards, but that also doesn’t upset one’s healthy, internal balance. It would therefore be difficult to say that any particular talent has no possible purpose within a Torah context, rather its proper expression must be sought.
I hope this is of some help.
With my best regards,
Rabbi Boruch Clinton