I’m a pretty regular looking CIS gender guy, and I tend to dress on the boring side. I play guitar – I shave my head – and when I had hair, I kept it short and unimaginative. I write this because I was once again struck by the amazing diversity we all experienced at our conference meeting this week, and it was a reminder of how great God is. And yes, to some people, diversity can be strange – but as I like to tell people regularly, normal is just a setting on the dryer. Diversity is actually God’s way; all one has to do is look at nature and soak up all the different kinds of flowers and animals, some yet to be discovered. To oppose diversity is to believe that there is only one way to do or be or live or look. I think we can all remember the lessons we learned about a guy in Germany who tried to put those ideas into action, and that didn’t turn out too well.
I’m not saying that I understand why some people dress the way they do. Their bold choices are not the choices I would make. The wildest I get is a tie-dye shirt and purple socks, and that happens rarely. I don’t understand why someone with great hair would wear it in a style that seems odd to me – but maybe that’s just the bald guy being triggered. And you know those people who drive banana yellow cars? I wouldn’t drive one of those if you gave it to me for free, but if it makes you happy, you go. We don’t need each other’s permission to express ourselves as we see ourselves – to be who God made us to be. And yet, so many people are trying to do just that. They believe that their way is the only way. To me, living that way is a denial of all that God provides in this world.
Jim Morrison sang that “people are strange, when you’re a stranger; faces look ugly when you’re alone.” I cannot help but believe that the increase in judgment and attempts at controlling people and destroy diversity is somehow related to our epidemic of loneliness. When an issue or symbol becomes a real person that you know, the dynamic changes. I have known a lot of people over the years who said they hated gay people – until their nephew or aunt came out. Most of them chose the relationship over the issue, and those who didn’t lost important parts of their lives. When I get to know someone who is very different from me, we usually become friends. Yes, diversity can be strange, but it is also beautiful. Don’t knock it until you try it.
Prayer – Holy God, thank You for all the amazingly different and beautiful creatures that You created. May we honor You by honoring them. Amen.
Today’s art the Pink Fairy Armadillo, brought to us by God.