When I was in Jr High I didn't have many friends... I hung out with one guy and that was about it. I never really understood what it was about me that all of the girls thought was weird or just not right. I was nice, I was normal (in some ways), and I wasn't too much different from them... But see that last fact was wrong, I didn't know so at the time but I was different from them... And it was a good thing.
See I remember my eighth grade year everybody... And I mean everybody wore UGG boots. I, on the other hand, thought they were the stupidest thing in the world. What was the point of wearing a shoe that was so beyond unflattering and tacky? Anyway... When winter rolled around and everybody broke out those stupid things, I kept my converse on and went my own way. "Don't you think they're sooo cute, Natalie?!"... "Don't you want a pair, Natalie?!"... No, actually I didn't, and guess what... That's what I said! I spoke my mind, I was myself. I was different. I didn't like those stupid boots. When I saw them in the store I wasn't tempted to get one on every color. I never wore them because I didn't want to.
Now you may be thinking "Well that's stupid, who cares whether it not you like UGG boots?" Well no one really right now, but back then I was the only one who decided not to own a pair. I was the only one who didn't think they were so beyond adorable. They thought I was weird because I wasn't like them, and I wasn't upset about that. Did I think about getting a pair to fit in? Yeah maybe once or twice, but I never did because all in all I thought they were stupid. Now... Lets put this into a more "real life" lesson. Basically what I'm trying to put forth here is that I am not like everybody else. You are not like everybody else. We all have so many thoughts and opinions, but how often do we express them? How often do we just go with what everyone else is doing just because its the new "normal" or because it's just easier? I was always told ever since I was little "Lead even if nobody follows".
Now obviously this goes further than just not wearing UGG boots because you don't like them... It goes as far as not gossiping because you know it's wrong. Not partaking in sinful nature because you know it is wrong. Not having premarital sex because you know it is wrong. Just because someone else is doing something does not mean you have to as well. Just because they will think you are weird, or not like you, or even fight you over it does not mean you should back down.
Jesus even says in Luke 12:
"'Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.'” (Luke 12:51-53 NIV)
He came to divide. He came to make soldiers out of us to fight the wrong in this world. He made us to be LEADERS, not followers.
“'I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.'” (John 16:33 NIV)
Be a leader in this world... Don't back down and do life the world's way just because it's easier now... The world may seem powerful, but it isn't. It has no power "For HE has overcome the world"
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