It amazes me how we continue to invent ways to celebrate mediocrity and then wonder why we are struggling to compete on a global basis.  Below is an excerpt from the news article that created my cause for concern:

“Dustin Do, 16, scored the 2012 BMW 128 Coupe, but it was his parents who were feeling lucky:  They get to drive the $36,000 car until their son comes of age.  Dustin, a sophomore at Sam Houston High School in Arlington, was one of 10 local students randomly selected from a pool of students who didn’t miss a day of school for the last six weeks.”

Not missing a day of school for six weeks earns this student a brand new BMW?  I truly hope this is a misprint.  Not missing school for six years may be something to celebrate but not six weeks.  If we continue to lower the bar of the exceptional then for the first time in our society we will no longer strive for excellence because we will have truly lost sight of the meaning.

According to the Encarta Dictionary, the word “excellence” is defined as “The quality or state of being outstanding and superior.”  With this definition in mind, here is what the Bible has to say in Philippians Chapter 4, Verse 8:

“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”

For what it is worth, I am proud of Dustin for not missing school for six weeks…but a new BMW?

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/06/08/kid-wins-car-cant-drive-it-off-lot/