Fitting Fine...

Have you ever taken a personality test? I love taking them because I usually learn something new about the way I tick. One of the tests pointed out that it is easy for me to get distracted and jump from task to task or thought to thought. That personality recognition threw me for a loop because it is so true. Shortly after learning the test results, I was ironing something and before I was finished, I went on the hunt for a birthday card to send to a friend. Then back to ironing when suddenly another thought popped into my head and off I went. Now what the test also revealed is that I will eventually finish my task however it will be done my way, which may not be the traditional way of doing it. It has always puzzled me how answering a number of questions for these tests can reveal a lot about me and how I function. They are not always 100% but most of the time they are pretty close.

One of the things I like about the tests is that we are all uniquely created. Society does not always approve of our uniqueness and people as a whole have developed what can be labeled as “normal.” The social pressure can be overwhelming especially when we do not fit the definition of normal.  Often times, the pressure can cause us to try to fit in and be someone we are not meant to be. I was raised by a loving mom, who lived the perfect example of what a “housewife” should be. For years my goal was to be just like her but most often I was left feeling unfulfilled and wanting more. She showed me how to be a good mom and how to keep a clean home however you will not find my picture alongside the title of “Suzy Homemaker.”
 
Not fitting according to other people’s expectations may be an uncomfortable place to be. Recently a friend and I were discussing different roles for women and she said that anyone who didn’t feel like they fit was in good company. Jesus did not fit either. As a prophet, religious leader and teacher, he did not “fit in” according to society or religious expectations either. He was always on the fringes of society, loving the unloved, healing the sick and brokenhearted and forgiving everyone regardless of who they were. He healed a Roman soldier’s servant, he cast demons from a man in a graveyard, he raised his friend, Lazarus from the grave and he taught a band of fishermen how to be his disciples. The people of Israel had different expectations of the prophesied savior who would deliver them from the suppression of the government and religious rule. They were not anticipating a baby born of humble birth in a stable or that he would grow up as a carpenter’s son. They did not expect a preacher man who roamed the countryside proclaiming God’s love and mercy. Yet he followed his own path and offered everyone a new way of grace, mercy and above all, love. So those of us that do not fit into what society deems as normal are in good company.  If you look up the phrase, “doesn’t fit” you will find a picture of Jesus and me smiling, with a sparkle in our eyes, thinking about our next adventure.