Fitting in
Gaithersburg, Maryland: It is interesting to sit and observe human behavior especially in the context of a new environment, it is equally interesting to observe the concept of adaptation when one feels they are now fitting in. I am sitting here wondering about the concept of fitting in. Fitting in is necessary and it is great especially when its done to avoid isolation or feeling like an outcast in society.
Having said that, when you think about it, it is the same concept of adaption and fitting in that has led to many compromising their values and beliefs just to become part of a group. Think about it, we expect our kids to behave the same way such that if one behaves differently they are labeled deviant. The concept of deviancy speaks about departing from the norm. There is nothing wrong with being normal, but the problem is normal is defined by society . Social is culturally defined and defined mainly by society. This is where we get what is socially and culturally acceptable. So if one chooses to deviate and do what s/he feels works for their destiny they are labeled as queer and are not socially accepted.
As we step into the new year (2012) my prayer is that we see more people who will step out of the norm those who chose not to fit in just for acceptance. I love those who will fit in to make a positive difference in society and change their lives for the better. Go beyond their lives and change those of people around them. I am tired of seeing one and the same type of behavior where the good are being recruited to the bad side of life. We need to accelerate the speed in which the bad are recruited to the good side. The practicality of the matter is in living what we preach and profess.
Today there is just is too much trying to fit in. I guess I have always been different in the way I do things such that I might not have experienced what people are going through in terms of their struggles with being different. I was raised that way, I cannot hope or even think I could be someone else or rather belong to a certain class because of pressure. When I decide to fit in I always do it strategically for purposes of destiny. It is mediocrity that pushes us to want to fit in. We are bigger and better than fitting in.
I am inspired by the story of Joseph in the bible who had a dream and saw himself bigger than his parents and siblings. His forecast was aligned with greatness, he thought about it so much that he found himself communicating it to all and sundry. He was not worried necessarily about fitting in, acceptance and adaptation. He saw himself even the stars and the moon bowing to him. Mediocrity was not part of his vocabulary. I mean this boy who later became second in command to the pharaoh saw himself way before he had that ring on his finger.
Good thing about Joseph is that he was driven and motivated by the fear of the God of his Father. To him life in as much as he felt he was the centre of attraction he had to elevate and esteem the one who is the giver of all life. I marvel at the tenacity, self belief and the drive he had even when faced with situations that would make him a normal immigrant in Egypt. He refused an offer for sex and chose to run and was eventually locked up for something he had not done. For him living the dream called for his being ridiculed especially for something he had not done. He could have agreed to the offer from Potiphar’s wife and become a commoner, but he chose to rise above mediocrity.
I believe 2012 amongst other things will facilitate the restoration of the fear of the Lord in all nations. Until the nations of the this world become the nation of our God. There is need for an army of Christians who are not cut out for mediocrity or fitting in to rise up and demonstrate that surely Jehovah is God. We shall not allow any voices that raise themselves above the word of the Lord to prevail. We shall shut them down with the word of God, we have come understand that the weapons of our warfare are not of this world. The army of the Lord shall stand still and see the deliverance of the Lord. This cannot be done by fitting in – but we shall follow the instruction of Paul to “separate ourselves from them and to be really separate”.
If we strive to fit in, adapt and be like them, then we shall be like them. We need to draw the line and be the people whom God requires us to be, otherwise 2012 will be worse than 2011.
