This post is about a song. But before we get to that, lets talk about high school. Good experience? Not so good? For me it was a mix. I remember the difficulties of moving from a Lutheran grade school to a public high school. One of 11 new students, I felt like everyone stared to see what these new parochial students would be like. It didn't take long for me to hear people calling me things like "preacher boy." At the time it bothered me a lot. I would suggest that part of our human condition is the desire to fit in. Typically, human beings don't like to painted as strange and different. Now, I don't tell my story to get pity. Instead, as I look back, I can see that I was different, and I now realize that was ok. God had called me to a new life in Jesus, and it turns out that i should stand out. Now, I certainly wasn't a perfect person, but if my peers were curious of my uniqueness, that was a good thing. The real question is whether or not I was able to do two things. One, could I handle being different without compromising my Christian faith just to fit in. Two, in the midst of this difficult experience, was I giving them a glimpse of what a genuine Christian should look like? (or as close as I could) The Bible talks about being a light to the world, even shining like a city on a hill.(Matthew 5:14) In another place it talks about not conforming to the world.(Romans 12:12) For sinful human beings, these ideas are not easy. I once heard it said that we were called to be in the world, but not of the world. This phrase sums it up well. In this life, sin will draw us in, but remember that God offers us far better things. Love. Forgiveness. New and everlasting life. Listen to Micah's song and let it be an anthem that spurs you to acceptance of who you are in Jesus, and most importantly to make changes in the areas that God will reveal.
Verses for Consideration:
Matthew 5:14 ESV
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Romans 12:2 ESV
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.
Lyrics:
I don't wanna hear anymore, teach me to listen I don't wanna see anymore, give me a vision That you could move this heart, to be set apart I don't need to recognize, the man in the mirror And I don't wanna trade Your plan, for something familiar I can't waste a day, I can't stay the same
I wanna be different I wanna be changed 'Til all of me is gone And all that remains Is a fire so bright The whole world can see That there's something different So come and be different In me
And I dont wanna spend my life, stuck in a pattern And I don't wanna gain this world but lose what matters And so I'm giving up, everything because
I wanna be different I wanna be changed 'Til all of me is gone And all that remains Is a fire so bright The whole world can see That there's something different So come and be different; oh-oh
I know, that I am far, from perfect But through You, the cross still says, I'm worth it So take this beating in my heart and Come and finish what You started When they see me, let them see You 'Cause I just wanna be different, ye-ey
I wanna be different I wanna be changed 'Til all of me is gone And all that remains Oh is a fire so bright The whole world can see That there's something different So come and be different I just wanna be different So could You be different In me