Opposite

Subliminal messages...a very discrete yet affective tactic. I feel like I have been a victim (in a good way) in the last couple days. Not from commercials or from implied ideas through conversation, but through music. Although music can have a direct and clear message, the frequency of the message is what has caught my attention. I stumbled upon an alternative Christian band called Leeland (they remind me of ColdPlay) last year and their new album was released recently called Opposite Way (single called Opposite Way). I purchased the CD, listened to it, and forgot about it within weeks. In the meantime Tye Tribbett has come out with his new album titled Stand Out. I listened to the single Stand Out and was immediately reminded of my growing up. I can say without a doubt that I NEVER fit in, and not by choice. I was raised differently than my friends and I never embraced my "sticking out like a sore thumb" image until I became an adult with spiritual maturity. I think that's what attracts people to ask questions and from asking questions, you have an opportunity to share Christ. I learned that I was made to be different and not blend it. But it's the most uncomfortable experience when you don't have an understanding of it.

Today I popped in my Opposite Way cd and listened to that very song. Lyrics:

Living in the same town
for all these years
Doing the same old things
hanging with the same crowd
and it's starting to get crippling
you never felt in place
and you tell yourself it's all okay
but something's different today
you want to run the opposite way
and it seems like you're locked in a cage
and you need to find a way of escape
when everyone's setting the pace- it's okay to run the opposite way

When we hear the phrase opposite way we think of it in a negative way, or going in the wrong way. But this is different, going opposite of the wrong way. Going away from the movement of the crowd. I realized that I have slowly reverted back to my old ways of being concerned with trying to blend in. In the skin of Tye Tribbett's CD is a picture of a pair of black, white and red Converse AllStar shoes amongst a pile of dull generic duplicate shoes. I was and am that pair of Converse shoes. It is a very vivid image and spoke to me as a reminder. These two songs reinforced in me what I have carelessly forgotten and the Lord is good enough to remind me of in a way I would understand. You don't want to be caught red handed bending yourself to be what you are not. In what way have you blended in? It's the one's who don't fit in who are in a position to become billboards. At one time or another we have all been captivated by someone who we have made notice of because something about them was different. We wanted to get to know them better, didn't we? Almost wanted to know the secret ingredient that made them so unique.

We are responsible for our own self, actions, what we say and what we don't say, what we do and what we don't do, especially for the sake of being "down" (we don't say that anymore). Self identity gets lost in the crowd along with every ounce of tenacity that drives us to battle right from wrong. I'm reminded of my Shepherd King who didn't fit in either. What if He did, would we be here today? What about that one person who was responsible for you turning your life around? If they we worried about fitting in, they might have missed you. I have a mandate and somebody is waiting on me to be at the right place at the right time, sticking out like a sore thumb. I can't afford to blend in. I am growing in grace and will not be afraid to run the "opposite way". I ask that you run with me.