Are You Really The Best?

Last night saw the final televised debate between Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer, before next Thursday’s general election. Questions from the audience led to angry, combative, passionate exchanges on taxes, migration, the betting scandal, Brexit…

The best question came from a Robert Blackstock: ‘Are you two really the best we have got to be the next prime minister of our great country?’

My American friends could similarly ask: ‘Are Mr Biden and Mr Trump really the best we’ve got to be our next president?’ If our national leader is to be the best person for the job, our choice should be between two of the best…

‘Are you the best?’ …We expect… the best people delivering health-care for our sick friends, providing education for our children… the best plumber, refuse-collector, care-home assistant, restaurant chef, church minister…

Asking myself Robert’s question. ‘Am I really the best?’…

…Tina Turner, overcoming personal challenges, with confidence and resilience, sung:

You’re simply the best
Better than all the rest
Better than anyone
Anyone I ever met

…As a boy at cubs every session started with ‘The Grand Howl’. Together we shouted, ‘Akela we’ll do our best’. He’d say, ‘DYB, DYB, DYB.’ We’d reply, ‘We’ll DOB, DOB, DOB.’ – All cubs knew this meant ‘Do Your Best’ and ‘Do Our Best’.

…Oscar Wilde is believed to have said: ‘Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.’

…The old children’s song:

If I were a butterfly
I’d thank you Lord for giving me wings
If I were a robin in a tree
I’d thank you Lord that I could sing
If I were a fish in the sea
I’d wiggle my tail and I’d giggle with glee
But I just thank you Father for making me, me…

Musing… ‘Are you really the best?’  With Tina Turner, through life’s challenges… committed to my cub’s promise… as Oscar Wilde’s unique self… grateful to my God that he made me, ‘me’… I pray that I shall be the best ‘me’ I can be, today.