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Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Conforming In My Nonconformity


I’m just going to be honest here…oh wait…I always am!

Sometimes I’m actually TRYING to open a can of worms! And ironically, sometimes I hear the can opener operating when I feel it is a fairly benign statement. Here goes…I struggle with conformity. I know…no surprise there!

There’s more…I don’t care if I ever fit in. In fact I hope I don’t.

I’ve seen what it is I’m supposed to FIT IN and I am NEVER going to fit. Even if a large portion of my brain and heart were removed…I couldn’t stuff myself inside the lines the modern world has created and outlined and called “woman”. I’ve always been an ‘outside the lines’ sort of artist anyway. Apparently my life actually imitates my art.

But wait…there’s more. I also HATE labels.

I hate being ‘pegged’ and assigned as if I’m described as an A, B, C, D or E. I even hate being labeled as an ‘outlier’. I hate the “Bell-Curve”. I hate political labels and religious labels and size labels and talent labels and intelligence labels…I hate them all! I guess that’s pretty clear.

I am ‘kpjara’ and there are NO OTHER kpjaras out here. Okay, well there might be another USER named kpjara…but trust me when I say I’ve yet to meet my exact duplicate in thought and feeling. I do not have an identical twin.

I love that I am an original. I love that my ways are not your ways. We are our Father’s children after all. I love that in seeing that our ways are different we both have an opportunity to see and potentially learn a new way…at the very least we recognize there IS another way.

I won’t deny that we become more ‘user friendly’ when we’re ‘dumped’ into categories and potentially understood that way. I will also admit that some conformity is helpful in military life and even some school regime (imagine a non-conforming marching band…it’s a scary thought). I just want to let you know right now that that ‘exception’ rule we all struggled to learn in English class, i.e. ‘I before e except after c, the vowels are a, e, i, o, u and sometimes y’, etc. is actually the rule of life and understanding others.

If we’re completely honest with one another, we’ll admit we don’t want to feel like we are being described as Susie Sunshine, when we’re really Jennie Joker or Traditional Tammy or Leader Lou Lou or Chatty Chandra or Whispering Whitley. We are all as unique as our fingerprints.

What’s so magnificent in this truth is that in our unique-ness, we come together, and just like a puzzle we fit. We do not fit with every single piece we are put against, but when we are completed, we can and do, co-exist and make the world a more beautiful place as a mosaic.

In finding and embracing the ingeniously created and unique “YOU”…you begin the journey of becoming a part of that mosaic.

We truly are better together, than we are apart.

Have a well-blended Wednesday!

15 comments:

someone else said...

Oh, yeah. Wouldn't it be the most boring world if we were all the same? I like our uniqueness.

the voice said...

It is only when we are truly "ourselves", that we can really use the gifts and talents God has given us. When we attempt to conform, we become "less" than what God created. If we embrace what the Lord has made in us, and worship and praise Him for it, we become "more". I believe you definately fit in the "more" category! May God continue to bless both you and your husband.
Ken

Joy M. said...

Not to mention the fact that we may be one thing one minute and something else the next. That's me anyway. Just try to put a label on me. It won't fit next time you see me. LOL

We did those "gifting" quizzes at church a couple of years ago. I just didn't fit. You know your graph is supposed to look like a peak to show where your gifting lies? Mine was almost perfectly straight across. I am "mediocre" in EVERYTHING.

kpjara said...

Morning Glory: Total dulldrom without the uniqueness

Ken: Thanks for the comments, constant encouragement and blessings! All of which I gain much from!

Joy: I LOL when I read your "mediocre in EVERYTHING" comment, because the truer statement is probably the dang graph didn't know HOW to place you!

Mediocre and JoyM...I don't think so!

I hadn't even taken into consideration the fact that we change daily!

pdiddy said...

We all should celebrate our uniqueness. I am glad you posted this one.

Shalee said...

Then why did everyone get us confused at the KC Lunch? Huh? Huh? Explain that one little lady!

But the greatest compliment I can think of is to be confused for you my wonderful, honest, God-loving friend!

I hope I'm like you when I grow up some day.

kpjara said...

Pdiddy: Love ya babe, your unique wife...

Shalee: People got us confused? HUH? I didn't know that! It has to be our gift of gab? LOL!

You crack me up Shalee...and bring me such insight, wisdom, with a dash of wit thrown in for good taste.

Dawn said...

I would love for all of us to get together in one room - well, we can in eternity! Won't that be fun??

Just Me said...

Hey ....what a good post! And timely too...I'm heading into one of my most uncomfortable arenas - a room full of other pastors and leaders! It's a good reminder from God, NOT to compare...not to label...and just enjoy being ME! Thanks for the nudge!

Sally said...

wonderful Kim, and I am so thankful that you are able to be you...

great2beme said...

I wish I was half as comfortable with who I am and who I am to become as you. You are amazing!

savvycityfarmer said...

Just found you the early morning of Thursday...will have to be back to read and ponder your thought provoking wisdom. Did I spell that right...

Anonymous said...

I'm glad we're all different too. I would get sick and tired if everyone was just like me.

Miche said...

BRAVO!! Speaking as someone who has never fit in with one group or another. SING IT SISTER! Differences are good. The world would be a much better (and safer) place if we would all just embrace our differences rather than fight against them.

tam said...

Man, ahem, I mean Girl, ...

Preach it SISTER! There we gooo...

Labels? Despised them even in school whether they be fashion or clique-ish types.

Peg Holes? Ohhhh can I EVER ditto your remarks...

Gifting Quizzes? Mine was much like Joy's and it does happen to change a bit every year or so as I grow in the Lord (Praise Him Praise Him for changes)

You know kpjara...you ARE unique. You ARE a BEE UUU T FULLL (saw this someplace once!!! hehe) example of a woman living what she learns and speaks of.

I am constantly amazed at what God shares with us through your words.

Oh I have so much more oozing to do but will have to save some for later...