The food at the last night’s event was good, with some dishes moving towards exceptional. As I surveyed the scene, I enjoyed the layout for multiple reasons. Each dish came plated and ready to consume. The arrangements made it easy to choose. There was a logic, appetisers to the left moving through savoury in the centre, and desserts on the right.
As I considered my choices, the first dessert tray stood out in a special way. The natural lighting highlighted the differences between the plates. It was as if the staff wanted to increase the temptation level to the point of no option but to choose this one level.
As I considered my choices, I found myself listening to Life whispers taking the details in front of me into a larger story for reflection.
Each of us stands out in our own way. We have a living story that is both familiar and unique. As I put myself into the frame, I realized that my freedom and responsibility to choose means I get to write how I want to stand out. Even those many seem in a “race for the honour of sinner-of-the-year,” (Romans 3.15) I choose if this is my race or if I am in another. This is not a one-time event. It is one I make at the beginning of each day and in each moment. The result of my choice will reveal how I stand out.
The reality of standing out does not mean there is only one winner. Life is not the competition I often think it is. Our lives can be full of winners. Nobody needs to lose, not one. In our diversity, we bring unique insights, ways of thinking and responding to the situation. In any moment, there is a need that we may be best equipped to fill. If not us, helping someone else be ready is a triple win for the community. How we fit within the community makes a difference. Last night it was easy and simple to make a choice.
I will stand out today.
