Ryan Billington

5-2-06

AP English

Extra Credit

Giraffes and Flip-flops

            The unique fascinations held by people can prove to be quite intriguing.  A love for a certain squeaky pen has dramatically affected most UCA students academic experience, and this year would not have been the same without a certain ASB officer’s fire for Ephesians 3:16-19.  From dancing in the bathroom to rubber duckies to “questing” to the squishiness of a sea anemone to giraffes to penguins to lime green flip-flops to the cloudy skies of Portland, there is no end to the list of these special items.  Some come with stories, several with personality, and a lot with, “…don’t ask why, I just do.”  But these individualized, seemingly random interests can often expose sides of a person that are impossible to see, and offer insights that words cannot capture.  Although “being unique” is often beaten to death in speeches, sermons, and other verbal bantering, only a few pause to appreciate these specific differences that break up the monotony of the everyday.  In this rush of last year activities, it seems that life is often transformed into a cyclone that rips through life and days later we wake up and realize that time, the events, and the people are gone with the wind.  In a quiet moment, remember to take the time to notice the unique and pause to thank God for the person next to and for the diversity.