Don't Fear, Be Weird

        Is being different, or weird, a negative thing? I would say it's quite the contrary. I believe being weird or different is pretty positive. I would go so far as to encourage stepping out and being the "weird one." But, what do I mean when I say the "weird one?" The one who picks their nose in the back of the class, the one who breathes heavily everywhere they go, the one who wears their pants too high, the one who wears super short shorts and high socks, maybe the one who has the spiritual gift of getting on everyone's last nerve? No. When I say, "be the weird one," I mean- DON'T BLEND IN WITH THE WORLD. Don't act a certain way because of what others will think of you, don't be mean to others because of the crowd you're in, don't say things you wouldn't otherwise say to try and "be cool," and most of all- don't be afraid to spread the love of Christ with others because of what it could do to your social status. As Christians and disciples of Christ, we are called to be different. In 1 Peter 2: 11-12, it says, "Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." Not only does Peter address us as "aliens and strangers in the world," but he even goes to tell us to live such good lives that people NOTICE. How can people NOTICE you're actions if they blend in with everyone else's? The way I summarize this verse from 1 Peter is- God says we're to be weird and different, now go do so. One way to be sure that you won't hear from God is to believe that God will conform to your comfort zone. If you go on believing that, you will never achieve what God has planned for you. God calls us to do things that are out of our comfort zone, which means we constantly need to be prepared to be "uncomfortable." Now, understand this, not everything God calls us to do is out of our comfort zone, but our comfort zone doesn't stop God from asking us to do something. Although, us allowing our comfort zone to control our actions stops us from doing what God is asking us to do. Don't allow other people to go through this world rejected, over-looked, or forgotten for fear of being different or weird. It's in the face of the rejected where we see the face of Jesus. You are reaping and sowing at all times, what are you reaping and sowing? Likewise, you are always telling someone about Jesus through your words, actions, and responses, what are you telling them? Don't fear, be weird.