Be Peculiar Not Normal
Dare to be peculiar because you aren’t made to be like anyone else so you might as well embrace it.
βYouβre not normal.β The anesthetist had known me all of twenty minutes and this is what she had to say.
When my regular doctor joined the party, I told him about her comments. He GRINNED. βOh, I could have told them that.” Such a sympathetic reply.
All of this was going on in the delivery room as I was giving birth to the newest addition to our family, a healthy baby boy. Even the doctor had only known me a total of seven months. Iβve always known I was unique and I have always skipped along to the beat of my own drummer, but the comments made me wonder just how off I must be.
Itβs one thing to consider you different. Those of you who have read some of my other writings know Iβm not embarrassed by my lack of being normal. Knowing you arenβt normal is very much a different sensation from being called out by perfect strangers. When people you donβt know are out shouting it in the street just how off you are then you might need to get a t-shirt.
The more the doctorsβ comments ran through my head, the more I contemplated normal. How many truly normal people do I really know? For that matter, what exactly is normal?
Websterβs defines normal as standard, average, or usual. For me, normal has always been about following the trends or the crowd. Normal is to be like everyone or everything else.
There have been very few moments in my life when I did things the way everyone else did them. You could call it my signature if you like, but I didnβt just dare to be different; I determined to be different. As I was growing up, I found pride in my uniqueness. Today, I still get a warm, fuzzy feeling when someone looks at me like Iβm βnot quite right.β
Finding scripture to back up my eccentric behavior was like a charge of lightning against a metal building. I think I actually lit up when I read that I am called to be peculiar (different, set apart). Finally, a word from God that I knew I could handle and do without feeling overwhelmed.
With the word of God backing me up, I have become even more determined to be off-center. Along the journey to βunbalancedβ, my habits and ideas have changed as I have grown and learned and experienced more (and Iβve managed to scare a few people with the changes – but thatβs another story for another day). The real key is that despite my changes, Iβm still βunique in all the world.β (This is a Little Prince reference – if you havenβt read it, I highly recommend it.).
For me, it has been all about the leading or should I say the following – just not following the chaotic crowd of THEY. Iβm not different because I donβt want to be like other people. Iβm not different to cause a stir. Iβm different because I step out each day trying to be like my Father. Walking in the steps that He left for me makes me different from others around me. His steps donβt give way to trends, times, things, or people.
Iβm not alone in my walk (or attempted walk) in the Fatherβs steps. There are people all around me who go about their day trying to do the Fatherβs will. With so many striving to walk in His steps, little clones should be running about. Thatβs another part of the uniqueness that is this Walk. No two paths are the same. His purpose for me and His path for me are specific to me. Iβm that special to Him. Instead of a bunch of clones wandering about, there are a bunch of odd, peculiar, unique individuals reflecting the glory of their Father.
How are you the βodd man out?β What are some of the peculiar paths God has called you to walk? What are you going to do today to set yourself apart from the world? God has made you βunique in all the world.β What will you do with that uniqueness?
Be blessed,
You are unique. You have a designed purpose. Now itβs time to uncover the seed planted in you at the beginning of time and begin living it out with boldness.
You know, you are making me think this morning! It’s not fair. I am definitely at a crossroads in my life right now and am pondering just the very questions you are asking. That is, I have always done things the way they were “supposed to be” and have never quite been satisfied with the way things have turned out..ie, career I don’t like, living in a city I don’t really like, wrong friends, etc etc. I am 41 and attempting to change at least some of that. More soul searching to do today. Thanks for the reassurance that I am on the right path to find it. I only hope I find it quickly. I am an impatient person! π
Hi! Thanks a ton for submitting a post for the Carnival of Craziness!
You’ve won a Badge of Honour!!!!!
Congrats π