The Last One Chosen

Bob Perks

January 15, 2014

All this week I have been reading messages about people who were lost in the shuffle of life - People who were often overlooked because they were deemed different. You know, the one in school who was the last one chosen on teams in gym class. Or the one who was slower in thinking, looked different because they were handicapped or often times simply because they were poor and didn't wear the right designer clothes.

As a professional speaker I often times will call on people in the audience to participate. I never want to embarrass an individual, so in advance I will ask for people I can call on. Often times the true "hams" float easily to the surface begging to be used. Perhaps it's their secret longing to do what I do for a living. But from experience I can recognize a "class clown" when I see one.

A few years ago while planning my program I asked for names of people I could contact in advance. I had worked with one of the members before and requested that I call on her again. The meeting planner said no. "She's had some physical problems recently. Don't say anything. But she's not as sharp as she used to be." he said.

Sharp, what does that mean? How could a physical handicap dull a mind? I knew her. In fact, when I found out I was doing this program I contacted her. We had a great talk.

The meeting planner told me that he would provide a better list of people he thought would be best for the program. I had a choice to make: Do what my client tells me to do or do what my heart tells me is right.

The day of my presentation I made it a point to arrive extra early so that I could purposely run into my old friend. She really hadn't changed much except for the cane.

"Don't forget. If you need someone to participate, call on me!"

"Oh, yes. I hope I have time. I have so many things to cover." I said nervously. It was then that I knew the answer. It was my heart I needed to follow. I trusted and believed in who she was.

My hour and fifteen minutes were rushing by. I used two people from the audience. Each time I called out a name, my eyes connected with hers ever so briefly. I could see the anticipation and wanting on her face.

I had flash backs of standing in line in gym waiting to be picked for a team. Each pause as the team leaders scanned the crowd made my heart pump faster. Then as usual, I found myself standing among the last chosen few. We were the ones without sports talent, name recognition, or the right clothes. My heart would sink as I often became the last one chosen.

My how things change. Here I was now having the power to choose. But this time I purposely held the best for last.

Today I chose to give a friend her chance in the spotlight. When I called her name her face lit up. It seemed she forgot the "handicap" that slowed her down in recent years. I shared our friendship story with the audience as she made her way to the stage.

I worked her into the program and she was excellent. We did some role-playing that seemed to connect in a very special way with the group. They laughed and applauded her efforts and she stood tall again.

Afterwards I saw the meeting planner and she said that my friend did an excellent job and was the best out of the three people I used.

I said "She was so sharp. I could have used her earlier. But I've discovered that the best is often... the last one chosen!"