Individuality
I read a recent "real life" funny about a group of teens full of piercings, tattoos, and chains, who walked into a store in a mall; one of the girls put some 'mainline' sunglasses on and modeled them to the rest of the group. At that point, one of the other girls said, "Please take those off, you look ridiculous!". Funny!
Danville is a pretty vanilla culture; there's, in my opinion, less room for the misfit. As a kid growing up here, for those who let's say weren't in to sports, or didn't have the looks of a cheerleader (or the desire), it was a tough place to be. Looking back I remember kids, especially starting in junior high, searching for a place to be an individual, to rebel against the mainstream. They became "Mods", they became "Stoners", they became "Geeks", and a number of other labels, or they chased the in crowd, searching for ways to fit in. As I look back, in some ways, many of the rebels were the most real, they saw through the charades and searched out their own place of belonging; or things were screwed up around them and they reacted by not being "normal". You could say the same thing to some extent in Anytown USA; and as an adult, I don't know that this pattern is all together different.
One thing that struck me as I was thinking about these subgroups; in the quest to be different, most of these people ended up being much like those around them. The girls who wouldn't be caught dead in any sort of colorful makeup were super particular about their black eyeliner; the boys who thought the jocks were dufus's for their rah rah fall-in-line attitude, all pinned their jeans and played hackey sack in the stoner section.
The point is most people are looking for a place to belong and that need doesn't stop once puberty is over; there seems to be an inner need to satisfy even for those who think they are "individuals". There will always be Sneech's looking for stars or taking them off. What does this say about the heart of man? Sure, "Birds of a feather flock together". How about "Are you off your rocker Mr Incredible"? Fine. But in a round-about way, I think it points to the yearning for something to belong to, for something to fill a void that exists deep in the soul.
So, how is this void filled? I think it truly can only be filled with a saving faith of Jesus who enables a right relationship with God by his dying on the cross for sins. And I'm not talking just going to church and learning the lingo. I'm talking about putting what that really means deep in your brain and dwelling on that peace constantly; making an individual decision that ironically puts you in a group where God intended you to be when he created you, one that worships Him and not self; one that seeks His leading and then takes the steps to follow it.
It certainly doesn't happen overnight, I'm continual evidence of that. There's precious few folks that I know and have known that seem to have embraced that peace to the extent possible. So, do you have a place to belong, one that lasts? I hope so.
2 comments:
Dude, I have long been aware of the "God shaped hole" in my soul :0) As a recovering Goth-chick with pink hair and multiple-piercing ambitions I can speak to my own journey. Oddly enough I always thought I was roughing it by being on my own, making my own choices and doing my own "thing"...looking back, I see the hand of God in every major choice and decision. I am so thankful to have the omniscient (forgive myspelling!) God whose fingerprints are everywhere. Even my most foolish choices have been for good...even when I meant them for harm. I am so thankful for my spotty, cliquish (is that a word??), painful youth...I wouldn't trade it for anything EXCEPT possibly Solomon's discernment. Would I be who I am if I hadn't been where I was? I don't think so...I'm so glad the plan isn't mine...I'd muck it up so badly! Thanks for posting ~ Sara S.
Goth-chick, aka Electra Woman-
Sorry, I left out the Goths, dang. There's some borderline Goths that walk past my house everyday, not sure if they would agree with the label or not. They seem like nice kids. I hope their journey leads right where yours did. My grandfather always used to say, "Put the Lord first, he'll do the rest." My life certainly hasn't gone according to my plan, I'm with you, good to know there's a plan to my life even if I don't always know what it is.
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