Blend in or Go Against the Grain
Written by Rev. Dr. Scott Paczkowski
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. ”
I was taught in childhood to blend in. Sticking out was treated as a sin because it implied an arrogance that anyone sticking out from the crowd was trying to be better than everyone else. But, learning to blend in had its benefits. Blending in, like fitting in, was very profitable growing up in a different school every year. Fitting in at a new school is vital to a happy life. Yet, blending in has its downside as well. When we make fitting in a priority, we can sacrifice our God-given uniqueness, which is a gift to be shared.
John P. Weiss, in his article “How to Turn Apartness Into Your Creative Asset,” affirms, “Nobody is born to blend in.” Blending in didn’t guide people to speak out against Social Injustice. Blending in didn’t motivate others to excel in ways that changed our world. The gift is in gleaning the wisdom necessary to know when blending in is appropriate and going against the grain makes the most sense.
Jesus blended in by remaining part of Jewish society. Jesus lived close to his hometown and rarely left except to visit Jerusalem for Passover as a child and on his way to the cross. Yet, Jesus knew when God expected him to go against the grain. While he preached in the Temple and Synagogues, what he proclaimed went against the grain. His healings were not blending-in moments either.
Today, pray for God to guide your life with the wisdom to know when to blend in and when to go against the grain. Also, ask God to provide the emotional maturity to respond to life, learning how to react to care for others in each situation. If Jesus balanced blending in with going against the grain, then we probably should as well.
