Teachings from the Trail Blog

All my life I’ve strived to become a person of credibility and reliability. I’ve assimilated into the roles prescribed for me. I’ve come to have a stable, comfortable and predictable life. A success by most accounts.

I don’t necessarily feel successful though. Truthfully, I’m confused as to who I really am. I find myself wondering, am I the person I want to be or who others want me to be? Have I become what society expects only to sacrifice my true self? Have I been swept away by the current of day-to-day life as though I have no say in my future – as though God has no say in my future?

Tough questions. After much introspection, I may realize that yes, I am right where I want to be. Or, I may realize that my inner self is yearning to come out; I have been led astray by the gravitational pull of society. The end result will likely be somewhere in between.

I used to think of Romans 12:2 only as a call for Christians to rise above the evil/sinful behaviors of the world around us, which it is. It says, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (NIV)

I also see it as a call for us to be individuals – to not conform to the expectations of society. In general, society expects kids to grow up, go to college, get married, get a decent job, have 3.2 kids (or is it 2.3 kids?), climb the corporate ladder and settle down in the suburbs. Those of us who break the mold often feel pressure to get back in line, to downplay our differences, or risk disappointing others.

I believe that society’s conformist nature and expectations kill individuals’ passions. The result is unfulfilled, discontent people who feel trapped in a contrived life; people who are longing for more meaning and purpose in life. And, our society is less varied while people in general become less accepting of people who don’t conform. Would you agree?

Let’s no conform or expect those around us to conform to our expectations either. How can you express acceptance for people who break societal norms? What changes have you longed to make in your life that you haven’t because of fear or others’ expectations? Will you take a step today toward implementing those changes? If you’re a parent, how can you encourage the individuality in your kids? How can you encourage the development of their imaginations?

Consider the words of this poem by Fanny Levin.

1 Thessalonians 2:4b: Our purpose is to please God, not people. He is the one who examines the motives of the heart.