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Gourmet restaurant chain Taco Bell recently announced it would release new Birthday Cake Churros on Feb. 20 to coincide with Greg Neal’s birthday. After decades of Neal being Taco Bell’s No. 1 fan, the popular restaurant chain chose the perfect day to debut its newest dessert. Many wondered about Neal’s thoughts on the release after Taco Bell’s announcement, but he was unavailable for comment. Those close to him reported that his first response was, “’Bout time,” and, “Better recognize.” His church congregation also feels as though they had a part in Taco Bell’s decision because they have showered him with dozens of Taco Bell gift cards every Christmas and birthday for years, enabling his unwavering dedication (addiction).

The previous paragraph is an exaggeration of the facts. It is certainly true that Taco Bell is releasing new Birthday Cake Churros on Feb. 20, which is also my birthday. Yes, I absolutely love Taco Bell. People did indeed ask my opinion when this was announced. I may or may not have responded with, “’Bout time,” and “Better recognize.” However, to say Taco Bell made this decision because Feb. 20 is my birthday is a stretch. In fact, the probability is extremely high that my birthday had no bearing on this decision (unfortunately).

The liberties I took in the first paragraph of a real event—crafting the narrative from my perspective and framing it in my own context—happens every day. We are excellent at reading something online or hearing something said, then reframing it in the way we want it perceived. We take liberties with the context and fill in the assumptions as facts. Suddenly, we have completely changed the validity of the situation.

Using the Taco Bell announcement about the Birthday Cake Churros on my birthday, let’s make a few applications:

It does not have to be about you.

Aren’t we good at taking something that has nothing to do with us and making it about us? I love Taco Bell, and my birthday is Feb. 20. However, their churros announcement has nothing to do with me. If we are not careful, we can take something that has nothing to with us, assume too much, and make it all about us.

That Facebook post probably was not about you. That statement in your pastor’s message probably was not about you.

However, like the Old Testament’s King Saul, we like to make it all about us.

Everything is not a sign.

Was this announcement from Taco Bell really a sign from God? There were just too many factors for it to be a coincidence. I should take this as a sign from God that He wants me to eat tacos on my birthday!

Of course, this is sarcasm. Yet many times, we make life-altering decisions based on things that were never signs from God.

Often, we look outside God’s Word for a sign when we should look inside His Word for clear instructions. I am not saying God is not interested in us and in our world—He can make the sun stand still. We just need to be cautious not to consider everything a “sign.”

Everything should not be an argument.

I know someone reading this is anxious to inform me that Taco Bell is not real Mexican food. My response is, “So what?” I like real Mexican food, and I like Taco Bell.

Perhaps someone reading this would really love to argue over hard-shell tacos vs. soft-shell tacos. (Everyone knows hard-shell wins.) My response is, “Why choose?”

My point is that everything should not be an argument. If you do not like Taco Bell, that is fine. I do, but I am not going to waste any energy trying to convince anyone to like Taco Bell. There are so many things in life we try to turn into an argument, giving our unwanted opinions when we could just be enjoying tacos instead.

When Feb. 20 arrives, enjoy your Birthday Cake Churros while thinking of me on my special day. Now that I have my own dessert, maybe I can get them to bring back the fiery taco shell. One can dream.

Here is something to remember: It is a small universe if we are the center of it.