Our twelve year old rolled her eyes at me as I descended down the stair case on the way to my self imposed “Tacky Day.”

“You’re weird, Mom.”

I guess in that moment I had delusions of grandeur, and that was not the Scarlet O’Hara entrance for which I was hoping. But then our eight year old rushed to my side, with arms wide open declaring, “I think you so cool, Mom.”

Yes, that’s more like it.

I pondered their opposite reactions that day. What happened in the span of those four short years when “Cool” was so quickly replaced by “Weird?”

This exchange brought me back to my own tender teen years when people’s perceptions far outweighed the fun of spontaneity.

When the pull of conformity over ruled individuality.

When influence rooted group think and apathy, rather than bold steps towards innovative leadership.

Now as a grown woman, I look around at my peers, and realize that their response isn’t that much different than my eldest daughter. I’m considered “weird” by many.

A few years ago, I had a discussion with Josh McDowell about “the church” as it is today.  As I shared my frustration regarding the difficulty in distinguishing the actions of the world from those in the church, and its apathy, he shared this fact.

Decades ago, the most notably quoted bible verse was John 3:16, now it’s Matt. 7:1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged,” which quoted on it’s own, is completely out of context.

As “the church,” many are caught between this delicate balance of attempting to be cool and relevant, while not being too weird or offensive. Without getting into debates on the varying church models, I turn introspective to where I am called.

If I had to choose, I would rather be weird any day. 

I want to live large for Him, but I wrestle with how that plays out on a daily basis.

Christ’s perfect model never guarantees comfort. In fact, He requires sacrifice, and with that often comes challenges, change, and the need for a big douse of courage.   Yet, His bridge building techniques spanned chasms of hostility, indifference, and apathy.

I want that! You should want that.

We must look different.

I want to nail my colors to the mast, so that there’s no doubt where my allegiance stands. My desire is to create the aroma of Christ that draws others to the fact that our lives are different, our families are different, and for that, there is only one reason.

So how do we dream those big dreams of creating irresistible influence, yet make them reality?

I am starting right where I am in my own core circle of influence.

My desire is to be known as a friend who guards confidences, and when gossip begins, I end it immediately, and point people to the biblical model. Gossip has such a strong hold among women. Sometimes we don’t even realize we are in the middle of it, and we don’t see the damage occurring. I want people to know that their reputations are safe with me.

My desire is to be a help mate to my husband, and build up the sanctity of marriage, when so many try to derail it.  Bottom line, marriage is hard work and half of all marriages are ending in divorce.

My desire is to be a mother who continually points her children to the infallible word of God as the only truth, the only answer to all cultural, political and societal answers. I want to be a mother who loves and encourages unconditionally,  yet delicately balances grace and truth when they fail. With their world and life view being challenged at every intersection, this solid foundation is something that takes time, but that can’t be overlooked.

My desire is to encourage women to embrace their role as a Family Manager by sharing creative and relevant ways to live a beautiful life on a budget. (Yes, and many of those might be classified as “weird”. :) )

My desire is to expose the lies that we have any hint of perfection going on in this life. I am one huge mess, and that’s why I need my Savior so desperately.

I could go on and on as I share ways in which my desire to live counter culturally is just plain weird.

In fact, think back to your high school years. Who are the people you remember most fondly? I bet it wasn’t even the “cool” kids.

As I tell our twelve year old, “Know who you have been created to be,” (and then I might slide in something like, “and lighten up,  it’s fun being weird.”

Always remember,  as His precious daughters,  you are fully and uniquely accepted, attractive, significant, and most of all loved!!

Bottom line, I’m weird, are you?

Plant your flag firmly, nail your colors to the mast, and declare it.

I’d love to hear it.

shared by Jen, a woman in passionate pursuit of Balancing Beauty and Bedlam.

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