Normality

Recently I've been involved in a couple of discussions on the subject of normal behaviour.

Truth be told I have NEVER really considered myself normal. I developed this attitude towards myself (and indeed others), during my formative years. I think I was first inspired by observing an American spoof commercial where two men are standing in a busy street waiting to get opinions on the benefits of their product from passers-by; they claim to want to find out what the ordinary person on the street has to say about their product. As they are talking, the camera zooms out and we see that everyone in the street is betraying a streak of eccentricity. Some are walking funny, some are dressed funny, some are using strange modes of transport... but ALL of them are unique... and the ad men confess glibly that "they are still waiting for an ordinary person to come along".

Yes it's a silly advert, but it made a strong impression on me as a child... something evidenced by the fact I can still recall it to this very day.

You see to me, there is no such thing as an ordinary person. In fact, so convinced am I of this notion, that I find it distasteful when people try to claim the centre ground of normality for themselves.

I accept that there is a scope of what we would call "normal behaviour" in society... but I believe that is primarily about laying the ground rules for what is acceptable in terms of how we treat one another.

If you've read my older posts, you will know that I have always been wary of following the crowd. If I feel something is hyped too much and I'm not already into it, chances are I will be resistant to the idea of taking exposing myself to it.

It is not that I consider friendly encouragement and inspiration from peers as entirely a bad thing... i just think it is very important that we discover things for ourselves.

The things we care about, the causes, doctrines and principles we believe in... all of these we must claim as our own. We cannot walk along a path that others dictate - along that road lies ruin.

So rather than seeing the vast majority of the human collective as "normal" or "ordinary", I much prefer to look at each individual and celebrate them as extraordinary.

Nobody occupies the same point in space and time as you, nobody will have quite the same effect on the people around you, as you will. Nobody else has been given the words you have been given to say, nobody else will feel quite the same about the people around you, as you will.

You are unique... and you should not hide this gift, nor shun the blessings and yes, even responsibilities that come with it. Nobody could fill your shoes.

You ARE unique... but before you let that go to your head... just remember, so is everybody else!

It's not Christmas yet, so I'll refrain from quoting It's A Wonderful Life. However the sentiments expressed in that film are absolutely true.

Another good illustration is the following clip from Dead Poet's Society:

I don't want to slavishly conform to the expectations set on me by others... in some cases , I want to walk in the way that is right for me. Sometimes that will mean I agree with the expectations laid before me, other times it means I'll throw them utterly out the window.

To conclude though, to live an extraordinary life, I believe there is one person and one person only, who is worthy of emulation - Jesus Christ:

"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself and became obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Philippians 2:1-11

I really do believe that sums up the debate perfectly. If we are to truly serve Christ as unique individuals, we should not overly covet a popular position at the very centre of society. If everyone stayed near the middle, how would anyone ever be rescued from the edges?

So wherever you are in the diverse spectrum of human characteristics and interests, may God bless you an continue to strengthen you in your unique and extraordinary ministry to the other people around you in your everyday life.

N

The Priorities of Change and Connection.

Recently I've succumbed to a dawning realisation that Christians as people (and I of course include myself in this analysis), are too easily swayed by the things that we are emotionally attached to.

What I mean by that, is that we find it so easy to make changes in lifestyle for the tangible... yet when God asks us to make some kind of alteration ton the way we live out our lives... suddenly the temptation to become emotionally tightfisted, hovers ominously overhead.

It's all the more easier when you have empathic qualities... because it is then, that you seek out connection with others. Don't get me wrong here, empathy is a really great strength and blessing... but as with most strengths it carries with it an Achilles Heel. The weakness is that in seeking out connections, we can allow ourselves to embrace things that don't really fit who we are as an individual. I guess it's a bit like having a jigsaw puzzle with a few pieces from a different puzzle thrown in. The pieces might even physically fit... but the picture on the front is different to the rest of the puzzle.

This isn't to say of course that we shouldn't allow diversity to culture growth in our relationships with others... but we mustn't sell out on ourselves so easily. We shouldn't give up the things we care about, that matter to us or interest us... just because someone new comes along who doesn't really like them. Neither should we worry if we aren't interested in the things that other people are all the time. We are who we are... we don't belong to others, we belong to God.

If we allow ourselves to become enamoured and swayed by things other people say and do... without offering at least the same privileges to the one who created us and purchased us with his Son; isn't that idolatry?

If we allow people to change us, or if we allow their interests or companionship to rule us at the expense of our relationship with God... or at the cost of the identity he has given us (and I'm not only talking of the new identity we are given when we become a new person in Christ, but also generally just the individual character he has blessed us with), then we do sell out and become idolaters.

Don't let yourselves get robbed blind by an overwhelming need to fit in. Have faith that in this universe you do have a place and time, and there are people that God designed you to fit in with. Who cares if your superficial interests aren't to everyone's taste? As long as God's cool with it, sing your song - the song he set in your heart when he designed you.

That's what he made you for!