Graduation

When my oldest son graduated high school, it was a pretty typical ceremony. The speeches were mostly what you’d expect with one exception.

The high school principal gave a brief yet inspirational speech. She told about unusual job interview questions that sought to get a an applicant’s unique perspective. She emphasized one question in particular.

“What’s your wow? What makes you stand out?”

We had a good family discussion using this and the other questions she asked. Doing so challenged each of us to consider our strengths and weaknesses and to look at ways we could each change and grow.

Wow Factor

Days later, I still found myself mulling over the discussion, especially the “What’s your wow?” question. I realized that God has give me many gifts and abilities, as he has everyone, that help me to stand out. Really, he created everyone to have a wow factor. While each of these gifts and abilities allow us tangible ways to visibly express this factor, they aren’t the wow. What is?

If you’re a Christian, your “wow” is Christ in you. His Holy Spirit within you creates an unmatchable wow factor.

“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

As he graduated, I felt excited for my son’s future because he’s a godly young man, and the “wow” of Christ shines in him. I also felt excited for my own future because of Christ in me, because of the wow factor he continually cultivates in me.