Spontaneous or Predictable?

"What would you like on your ice cream?"

"I'll take Oreo cookies and chocolate syrup, please!"

"You're a traditionalist, I see!"

As I pondered that statement I began piecing together the traditionalist puzzle she poured out of the box in the ice cream line that day. 

By traditionalist did she mean predictable? Safe? Boring?

By being a traditionalist are you telling me that I can't be fun, brave, or spontaneous? 

If I'm honest, I am guilty of often having a one track mind, thinking about the causes and effects of my decisions, and wondering about all of the if-then conditional statements of my life. 

It's this linear model of thinking that often suffocates my mind from the spontaneity of those who view life in the circles of popcorn and cotton candy!

Yes, many of us have a preferred learning style, set of personality traits, and behavioral tendencies. But that doesn't mean that we're bound to a particular lane on this highway of life. We still have options and paths ready for us to explore. 

When we start placing labels on people based on their race, background, or personality we hinder them from developing a more solid foundation for their own personal identity, purpose, and mission in life. 

Is there anyone more of a traditionalist than the Creator of the universe? 

God, who created everything under the sun, is unchanging making Him appear to be the most predictable, safe, and trustworthy source of all things known to man while simultaneously the most spontaneous, courageous, and limitless being in all the world. 

And we find every one of those traits exhilarating and something to be admired.  

Here's what I fear. That to hear the words "you're no fun" implies that our focus in life is that we're meant to be entertained. But more than being entertained I think we're meant to be involved in a mission.

A mission that in one moment may involve the exhilaration of spontaneity entering into the unknown spaces of life while simultaneously holding a pattern of peace and security because the master of our life's ship is standing firmly on the bow!

I Wanna Be Famous

"Teacher, do you have an Instagram?"

"Yes I do have an Instagram but I don't follow anybody!"

So the class carries on with comments about social media interspersed with our academic content as this thought begins to rise. In most cases, while kids were talking about their profiles, it became apparent that most students 'follow' more people than they are being followed by.

Then, a kid spoke up and said, "Famous people don't follow anybody!"

"So, let me get this straight. Famous people don't follow anybody. I don't follow anybody. So that makes me famous, right?"

Of course they quickly shot down my hypothesis! After all, I'm just their middle school math teacher!

We live in a world whether it be on social media, doing chores around the house, or finishing up last night's homework, we want somebody to notice us; we want somebody to find us famous.

I think we all live with this desire inside of us to feel important, to be needed, to matter.

Some may push back on this idea but the reality is we either want to be like someone else or be completely different than everyone else because we crave some amount of notoriety.

Two questions. What are we willing to do to be famous? Who's attention do we really crave?

Is it our parents? Our spouse? Our boss? Our neighbors?

What if we've chosen the wrong audience in an effort to garner all this attention and praise?

Can you spare me a moment to make this statement. I believe living my life for an audience of one, namely for God alone, is the most important decision anyone could ever make. And I find that this relieves me of the stress of trying to measure up or catapult my achievements to the top of anyone else's leader board.

And this creates a tremendous paradox to the cultural temperament embraced by most people. Where getting ahead, finishing first, or being the best is the recipe for achieving success.

To be famous in God's eyes involves serving others instead of being served, willing to go last instead of first, choosing to love instead of hate, giving grace instead of judgment.

When we embrace this kind of life, we may not be the most famous but it sure will make the world a better place to live.

So, today, instead of seeking to be famous according to the world's standards, choose to live differently. See the world the way God sees the world. Because when you do, you will do as He says! And He will smile! And there's nothing better than having God's attention! Because being famous in His eyes brings an incomparable fame that much of this world has yet to know!