Keep it Simple

What is it about claiming something as the “best in the country” that gives us a feeling of invulnerability?  Is it the feeling, though we’d never admit it, that a simple yes or no, favorable or unfavorable, competent or incompetent does not adequately express our need for having the best, highest rated or most expensive of some particular thing?  Who determines if a person, place or thing really is the best?  How is that arrived at?  Is there a vote?  Is there a world rating system on all goods and services?  Most likely not.  It is simply the way, in our insecurity, that we make ourselves feel good about who we are, what we have or what we have done.

          I am pretty sure it was Ghandi, a Hindu, who said in essence, that the Sermon on the Mount, spoken by Jesus, and recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, is a very wise piece of writing that on how to experience life. Gandhi said of it, “Christ’s Sermon on the Mount fills me with bliss even today. Its sweet verses have even today the power to quench my agony of soul.”  The Sermon emphasizes the importance of simplicity of life and speech.  That was a very simple sermon.  Deep, but simple. Let your yes be yes, and your no, no, Jesus instructs.  Don’t worry so much about a particular texture of food and designer clothing (italics, mine).

          Here are some examples of a few phrases we may want to rethink. Perhaps we could dial it down a bit, and be more, as our Amish neighbors say, plain!

·       He is the top orthopedic in the nation! (referring to your new “hip or knee” doc)
·       It was the most expensive model they had! (I want you to know I have the best  and paid the most)
·       That was the most delicious BBQ ever! (personally, I still haven’t experienced the absolute best bbq, however I’m trying to find it)
·       That was the best sermon I’ve ever heard! (you don’t get out much, do you)

So, my encouragement is to make your statements, show your appreciation complement things that are worthy, but go light on the over-the-top superlatives that actually do nothing to add credibility to your claim.