That's right. Many of the cheer leaders, football players, and others who are 'in' started doing what they do because everyone else was doing it. Some really have a love for what they do, and I respect them because it takes a lot of hard work in many cases for them to be involved in those activities that are often so popular. But for many, it's just a way to get noticed. Same goes for a lot of the 'punks.' They weren't accepted in the usual popular circles, so they decided to be different... like everyone else. Does anyone besides me see a contradiction there?
What people seem to forget is that we're all individuals, so speaking from a purely human perspective, there is no normal among people. We're all different. So they shouldn't have to try to be different.
Then there is the lesser-known category of the church people. Have you ever noticed that there is a stereotype for how a pastor should look? You know what I'm talking about. There are some people out there who feel that a pastor should have a certain hair-cut, or maybe no facial hair. They have to wear suits for every service. It's extremely ironic because, as incorrect as it likely is, they usually picture Jesus as having relatively long hair and a beard. This is just one example of how superficial people within the church are at times. At one point, I didn't have any close friends within the church; they wouldn't allow me into their little group. And I had a good reputation too. It was teenagers doing what they are known for, being cliquish. I decided at one point, not just in my head, but in my heart as well, I need only worry about what God thinks of me. At that point my style began to change. Along with my responses to different things.
The first thing I want to remind people of is that according to the Bible, the darkness and the light are both alike to God. It also says that God is of purer eyes than to look upon sin. That being so, how could he look at darkness and light so similarly? We forget that God created the night as well as the day in the first place, and you'll never find anything in all of creation quite as breathtaking as a full moon shining in the night and reflecting off of a body of water. You will find some of the most beautiful sights in God's creation in the dark, and the same is true in life. I don't believe God would create evil, so how could I believe that darkness in and of itself is evil? The darkness is confusing and lonely. And while I don't believe it's evil, the fact remains that evil likes to hide there, so one should be wary of it.
I'm one to believe God doesn't do anything by chance. He often reveals Himself through His creation. Scientifically speaking, we give materials color designations based on what color(s) of light they reflect. We say something is green because it reflects green light. That being said, most would see red as the color of love. Well, I would have to disagree. Anyone who has truly been in love could tell you that love is like the sum of all emotions put together. The color white is more the color of love because it is every color of light combined. On the other hand, it's debatable whether or not black is even a color. It doesn't reflect anything; it absorbs it all. It's a void; it's empty; it's a beginning; I imagine it is how things were before time began. It is like God's canvas on which He paints his greatest masterpieces. If you look at the sky at night you can see an excellent example of this when the stars and moon are shining. As I said before, dark times in life can be difficult. They're confusing and lonely, and we have to be more cautious because our enemy can hide easier in the dark. But just like those stars shine brighter the darker it gets, so do God's people become more passionate, wiser, and stronger as a people when they go with Him through trying times.
Another interesting fact to point out is that darkness is like a filter. Jesus Himself said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life..." The Bible says, "God is Love." Love and Truth go hand in hand. And I really can't think of anything more important than to keep God first. Which means that all that is important to us should be loving and truthful because these in their purest form are things of God. They are names for God. God is my Truth; He is my Love. The stars never stop shining. but the reason the stars are so apparent at night is because the darkness filters out everything else. In life the darkness is difficult, but you learn to see the things that really matter in life. Ultimately, God is all that matters; if you keep him first everything else falls into place.
So how does this matter to me and my experience? When people reject me because of my attire they're the ones I don't want around me anyway. It filters out the people who are not willing to go deeper than that. And I said before, darkness to God is like canvas to an artist. It's empty. I want to be emptied of myself to allow God to do the greatest work possible through me. I want to stand out for Him the way those stars shine in the night. And besides, it makes for great conversation. Just imagine what might happen if I talked to a non-christian about all this. There may in fact be some. I encourage everyone to learn about God and stay close to Him. It's not easy, but it's only way to really find life.
--Robert