I am NO Chameleon

One of the things I love most about holidays is playing family games. Some of the best laughs or the most competitive disagreements can be found playing games – especially when some of the said members are “speech and debate” champions. LOL! But it boils down to family fun and being together on the things that matter most. My Frisco family gave me a “pro” Scrabble game as a Christmas gift. It’s made with wood and ball bearings for easily spinning and closes up with the letter squares packed securely away. The common-sense rules we made AFTER game-play was to “follow the rules” and NOT make new ones. We love putting together jigsaw puzzles so the 30” x 24” State of Texas puzzle held our attention for hours. We all contributed to getting er’ done. We didn’t. It is a 1,000-piece puzzle and it will remain on the table where we’ll continue to find another piece to place. This one will deserve gluing together for display! It’s engaging and we learned a lot about our state. One of the things I love most about holidays is playing family games. Some of the best laughs or the most competitive disagreements can be found – especially when some of the said members are “speech and debate” champions. LOL! But it boils down to family fun and being together on the things that matter most. My Frisco family gave me a “pro” Scrabble game as a Christmas gift. It’s made with wood and ball bearings for easily spinning and closes up with the letter squares packed securely away. The common-sense rules we made AFTER game-play was to “follow the rules” and NOT make new ones. We love putting together jigsaw puzzles so the 30” x 24” State of Texas puzzle held our attention for hours. We all contributed to getting er’ done. We didn’t. It is a 1,000-piece puzzle and it will remain on the table where we’ll continue to find another piece to place. This one will deserve gluing together for display! It’s engaging and we learned a lot about our state. Then they pulled out one of the family favorites. Little room for honest cheating on this game. Being a good fibber, deceiver and strategist is part of the game play. The game is called “The Chameleon” and it’s hilarious. The tagline on the game, “Blend in. Don’t get caught” is what “The Chameleon” game is about. It is a fun, fast paced test of strategy and deception. So, after spelling out the “nature” of the play, you’ll know I’m no good at it. I am lousy at lying and deceiving, which in life, is a good thing. But to be a good “chameleon”, you have to be good at both! The game is very entertaining, and it sure tested my ability to lie OR not! It seemed I was unintentionally given the “chameleon” card way more than anyone else. I had to fake it that I knew what the others were describing with their one-word.

The color of a chameleon’s skin helps them blend in with their habitats. And, to be a good chameleon at game-play, your word must blend in so no one suspects you’re the chameleon. Mine never did so they pegged me every time as the chameleon. Dr. Seuss said, 'No one can be you-er than you,' and Oscar Wilde said, 'Be yourself because everyone else is taken.' So, there you go! I’m okay with being me and not having to blend in. All games aside, we all have that option of just blending in with the crowd and listen to, talk about, act like and participate in the things that the “crowd” does. When we’re pushed to the limits in our faith, our values, and our beliefs, do we have the courage to take a stand? If we’re stand-outters, we can’t live a life of passivity. We have to make life decisions based on our determination to never compromise our values, and our relationship with God. I want to be a difference maker that rises above the noise. And we all know noise. We’ve experienced a lot of it this year. I want to STAND OUT when others complain. I want to steer them to their blessings. When others worry, I’ll stand-out by giving my worries and cares to God. When others laugh at an off-colored joke, I’m going to stand-out by not laughing and/or walking away. I will forgive despite who wronged me or spoke evil against me. I want to be remembered for STANDING OUT! How about you?