In 1998, just before being called to Calvary in Reading, I was serving as interim pastor at a church in Pottstown, PA. I remember this sermon I preached, not because it was the best one ever, but because of the reaction I got. It was called “We’re all Weird”, and two teenagers, a brother and sister, came up to me after and said – together – in an almost whisper, “Thank you.” I didn’t know them at all – the family came occasionally to worship – but when I asked one of the active members about them later, this woman (a very unkind person) said, “Yes – that whole family is weird.” At that moment, I got a clue as to why that church was dying. It made me tremendously sad.
The origin of the word “weird” is from the Old English word “wyrd” (pronounced veered), and it had to do with supernatural beings or destiny. A Wyrd is also a place in fantasy literature where supernatural beings live. Since the 16th century the word weird has been used to describe someone or thing or event as strange or different or unusual. Now it is being flung around to describe people running for the highest offices in our country, which is disappointing to me. It’s one thing to say someone is behaving strangely; it is juvenile to constantly call people names. Someone can do something that is dumb, but nobody should be called dumb. It is hard for me to imagine why anyone would respect a leader who can’t refrain from insults.
From my vantage point, all four candidates are kind of weird. And all of you are too. I know I am – weirdness is what makes us unique. It is the beauty of our creation and the perfection of the Creator that makes us, at the same time, so alike and so different from each other. I have a weird way of thinking and a weird sense of humor. Some people walk strangely or look different or speak in a way that is unusual. Nobody should purposely try to creep people out, but neither should they try to conform to be liked. And while there are lots of things we need to do to get along in the world – like wearing pants in public, for example – it would be truly awful if everyone was the same. Can you imagine millions of people getting the same haircut or wearing the same shirt all the time or getting the same nose job? That wouldn’t be weird – that would be unhealthy and cultic.
I love when people are weird (not scary or dangerous looking) because, as I have written before, normal is just a setting on the dryer. I think about all these people, mostly teenage boys, who, after being bullied for being different, lash out in unimaginable ways. Yes, some of them are mentally ill and need medication, and some of them are evil, but many of them are just lonely, strange kids who have had enough and don’t know how to handle it. I don’t excuse them or the carnage they bring, but I often wonder how much of it could be avoided if we punished the bullies instead of the victims of bullying. If we accepted difference instead of forcing conformity. If we welcomed the stranger, like Jesus told us to. There’s nothing wrong with being weird – what’s wrong is mistreating people who are don’t conform to useless norms. Go on an be your weird self – God made you that way.
Prayer – Our uniqueness comes from You, God, and we are so grateful. Help us to see and appreciate Your spark of strangeness in every person we meet. Amen.
Today’s image is Weird Al Yankovic – love him!