Rolling Out The Red Carpet
Rolling Out the Red Carpet
Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.
Romans 12:10
One spring, Tim and I helped organize a prom for students with special needs. The event was free for participants, and businesses and volunteers offered time and money to make it happen. When the day arrived, I was mostly tied up, helping take care of the decor, gift bags, and some other logistical items. But I managed to sneak away to see the students walk the red carpet.
Each honored guest rode to the prom in a limo (or other transportation, if they needed additional help), and when they arrived at the high school, they were treated like VIPs. The red carpet stretched from the curb to the door, with canopies hanging over the top. Throngs of family members and folks from the community, emergency personnel (just in case), and even Minnesota Vikings cheerleaders crowded the sides. After exiting the limo, the students got the chance to strut down the red carpet while “paparazzi” took photos, the announcer boomed their names over the loudspeaker, and the audience roared their approval.
Watching the students, I felt their joy reflected in myself, but it wasn’t until I witnessed the silent applause that I found myself in tears. For some of the students, too much noise can feel overwhelming, so in those cases the audience cheered silently by waving their hands in the air and smiling broadly.
It reminded me of watching a sporting event after something solemn has happened in the world. The announcer asks for a moment of silence, and the crowd goes still. It’s a moment of honor, one in which silence reigns and the gravity of the moment can be felt.
The silent clap held that same, solemn weight of honor, but it was somehow more. The weight of silence was balanced by the joy of celebration, seen in raised hands—hands lifted to say, “I honor you, and I celebrate you.”
As I wiped tears away, seeing tears in the eyes of those around me as well, I thought about how when Scripture asks us to “take delight in honoring each other,” this is exactly the sort of thing it means.
— Today’s Act of Kindness —
Think of someone you can honor. Write this person a note, or call to let them know how much you admire them, just for being them.
From the book
