Different.

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

Psalm 139:13,14

God made every single one of us unique. From the nerd to the weirdo, the extremely introverted to the charismatic leader.

All of us are created different.

There was a time as a child when I was uncomfortable with whom I really was. The crazy kid who just can't seem to grow up, still living in his own world of guns and castles.

There was a time when I felt totally out of place in school because I don't enjoy the things others enjoyed. I was the rebel of the crowd, always the enemy that chooses the other way.

I'm sure many of you will in some point of your life experience such a feeling, that you're just to weird to be part of a group, even in church life, and afraid that acceptance may be a scarce resource.

But somewhere along the line, I've given up trying to be like everyone else, and be who I really am.

In God, I am secure. I am fearfully and wonderfully created. God didn't screw up when He made me, He intended me and you this way.

It's not denying or suppressing who you really are. I don't mean we let loose our evil nature and then claim immunity in the name of "uniqueness". It's about accepting some parts of our lives that may seem weird by the standards of normality.

Oh well.

This led Shaun to declare one day "I'm sick of trying to be someone else; I'll just be myself."

And from that day on it was chaos unleashed. Heh.

So often we spin a web of lies, trying to cover up who we really out due to our insecurities and fears that we might not be accepted. Army has taught me that these are "luxuries" that we cannot afford if we truly want to grow and move on.

Something wonderful happens when we stand in the presence of a loving and almighty God, I can't really explain that, but when we are found in the security of our creator, we are free to be whoever, whatever we are. That's why I will never let go of the cross, because He will never ever let me go, I'm always in His grip of grace.

This truth made me see others and myself in a different light.

And hopefully I can learn not only to accept other fellow weirdos, but to love them too.