I spit out a short and humorous story for an impromptu writing contest yesterday and was torn apart by a traditional critic judging the contest. She did not understand the piece as humor or thought it inappropriate if she did. The critic pointed out several items in the story that could not be true. But that is one of the major points of humor...juxtaposition: linking together of opposites.
The contest took placed within a Christian writing organization that I am a member of. Comments from persons here and there, added to the experiences I have had, lead me to believe that the hierarchy of Christianity can be very rigid and traditionalist...non-flexible and non-inclusive...at times.
God made each one of us special. Those of us fitting into the common mold, I say, God bless you, for I struggle with that aspect of civilized life. That fact can make life a little tough at times. If you are not in a great and steady job, do not dress up to the standards of the majority, see things a little different than others, or whatever, that can make life difficult.
The way God tells me to handle differences is to celebrate them. If all flowers, all trees, all clouds, all sunsets, etc were alike, would this not be a drab and mundane world? Celebrate our differences. If you or someone you know is different, love them and let them love you back as God desires and does himself.
A devout follower of Christ and an extremely different professor in college that I respected told me, "Being different will draw people's attention, but you must armor yourself against those critics that want all people to fit into their world-mold." Well, it is God's world, not theirs. I also like the famous American Admiral David Farragut's admonition to his crew when faced with great danger in attempting to accomplish his mission, "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" We are God's children, and what some seem to forget is that as Christians we are or should be different. Rejoice in that difference. Take strength from that difference. If you have spent your life fitting into societies mold, borrow courage from the people who have lived their entire lives being outside societies norm; we are not all crazy or criminal. We have good hearts for our Lord. Come, let us comfort you and give you shelter while you put on your new self. Have the courage to say full speed ahead when faced with great trial and danger while attempting to be different for our Lord Jesus Christ for He is with you and will guide you. For He was very different from the messiah everyone awaited.
The contest took placed within a Christian writing organization that I am a member of. Comments from persons here and there, added to the experiences I have had, lead me to believe that the hierarchy of Christianity can be very rigid and traditionalist...non-flexible and non-inclusive...at times.
God made each one of us special. Those of us fitting into the common mold, I say, God bless you, for I struggle with that aspect of civilized life. That fact can make life a little tough at times. If you are not in a great and steady job, do not dress up to the standards of the majority, see things a little different than others, or whatever, that can make life difficult.
The way God tells me to handle differences is to celebrate them. If all flowers, all trees, all clouds, all sunsets, etc were alike, would this not be a drab and mundane world? Celebrate our differences. If you or someone you know is different, love them and let them love you back as God desires and does himself.
A devout follower of Christ and an extremely different professor in college that I respected told me, "Being different will draw people's attention, but you must armor yourself against those critics that want all people to fit into their world-mold." Well, it is God's world, not theirs. I also like the famous American Admiral David Farragut's admonition to his crew when faced with great danger in attempting to accomplish his mission, "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" We are God's children, and what some seem to forget is that as Christians we are or should be different. Rejoice in that difference. Take strength from that difference. If you have spent your life fitting into societies mold, borrow courage from the people who have lived their entire lives being outside societies norm; we are not all crazy or criminal. We have good hearts for our Lord. Come, let us comfort you and give you shelter while you put on your new self. Have the courage to say full speed ahead when faced with great trial and danger while attempting to be different for our Lord Jesus Christ for He is with you and will guide you. For He was very different from the messiah everyone awaited.
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