Being The Best

"Misty, were you our Valedictorian?" Amanda asked from across the table at our 15-year high school reunion.

"No," I shook my head. "I thought it was T.J."

"I thought it was Amanda," T.J. countered, and we fell into amused laughter.

Despite Valedictorian being an extremely honorable achievement, the W.E.H.S. Class of '96 simply could not remember who held the title.

At some point in my life, the importance of being the best greatly diminished, and I started considering the idea that God can use whatever I have to offer. Instead of comparing my accomplishments or abilities to those of other people and feeling a constant need to prove myself, I began noticing what tiny steps of progress I had made. Those were definite signs of God's work in my life. Desperately striving to be the best blocked me from even seeing those areas where he was gradually, imperceptibly transforming me.

Even when we hold no titles, feel lacking in ability, or rank far from the top of the class, he still has a role for us to fill---a niche, where whatever measure of potential we possess is earnestly needed.

We see lack, but he sees plenty.

If he used only the best, we would all be forced to forfeit large chunks of our lives.

Like our 1996 Senior Class rankings, frantic efforts to always be the best might only produce results that will soon be forgotten.

But the results from letting him transform us into his best are lasting.