Our even gathering was a festive event. Two different groups of the same business were having meetings near each other and had gathered to share some food, play some games, and overall have a good time. The setting was great; warm tropical weather with a cool refreshing breeze coming in off the ocean, the light of the island hotel shimmering in the early evening, and samples of all types of food just begging to be enjoyed.
As the games unfolded the participation and noise level increased. People actually seemed to have a thirst to enjoy what was going on! Eyes were bright, smiles everywhere, and conversations animated and accented with laughter. The final event occurred as five groups were formed with one man and three to four women. The women’s assignment was to turn their “candidate” into a Miss World contestant in the next 10 minutes. Supplies included lipstick, wigs, feminine support garments, fax jewelry, and of course all shapes and sizes of padding and stuffing.
Three of us were asked to play the “judges” role with freedom to take the show in any direction we wanted. During our huddle the pattern established by countless shows before us become the template for the evening. This included a swimsuit strut, the obligatory three questions, and the fashion parade. As we got into the role it was interesting to watch the interplay between contestant and audience.
Without revealing specifics it was amazing how some of the contestants new exactly what to do! It was as if they had been cross-dressing all of their lives, or at least much of recent history. Wisdom’s observation and warning was easily demonstrated during the program.
“The person who’s always cooking up some evil soon gets a reputation as prince of rogues. Fools incubate sin; cynics desecrate beauty.” (Proverbs 24.8, 9)
Saturday night’s program was people playing out a cartoon. The way we live our lives can be just that or some else; the latter I call living. What will it be? Our answer comes in what we practice – everyone sees the results.