Against the Grain

From the moment we start school, we are told to “fit in.” We try to follow certain guidelines and standards to make sure that we blend in with the crowd, that we don’t make any loud noises or sudden ripples. We are taught to be “typical.”

Our tendency toward the typical goes beyond the playground. TV shows for adolescents and adults often revolve around the age-old adolescent question, “Why can’t I/my family/my living situation just be normal?” Marketing messages tell people that they will achieve ultimate happiness when they live in a house in a suburb with 2.5 kids and a white picket fence. While at the same time some people really want to live outside of the expectations and the standards society sets for them.

We are all special and loved in God’s eyes, and living out our lives as Christians often means living in an atypical fashion. We should strive to stick out in the crowd, not blend in with the rest. In addition, God wants us to be special and live our lives to the utmost of our potentials.

Share this article and have a discussion about how God wants us to live atypically.

  • What did you think of the article? What do you think of the author’s ideas about living a “typical” v. “exceptional” life?
  • In what ways does your life fit the “typical” mold?
  • How is God calling you to an atypical or more exceptional way of living? How can you make your life truly atypical on a day-to-day basis?
  • Pray that God gives you the courage to live your life to your utmost potential without any limitations or boundaries.