Don’t Try To Blend In

We have some visitors in the pond behind our house.

Although it’s been a few years since we’ve seen them, these ducks are welcomed guests.  And we are not just talking about a few.  No, there are hundreds of ducks wintering here.

As I was sitting on the deck taking in some warm sun yesterday, something odd caught my eye.

These ducks were chasing each other around the pond.  They were biting one another and quacking in frustration and disgust.  It was a pretty loud and chaotic situation.

But in the middle of this huge flock of ducks… was a goose.  Being twice their size, this gentle intruder stood out like a sore thumb.

His cover was blown.

Even though he swam like a duck, submerged his head to get food from under the water like a duck, made duck-like noises… he was most certainly not a duck.

He didn’t participate in their fighting.  He didn’t partake in their angry behavior.  Instead, he swam in and out of the flock.  It was calmness in the midst of chaos.

That’s a perfect picture of how we should be in this world!

We should stand out rather than blend in.

But here is the problem… most of the time we don’t.

• We gossip behind the backs of others rather than stop the conversation.
• We watch inappropriate movies and shows instead of setting a standard.
• We use language and expressions that are offensive.
• We allow situations to overwhelm us rather than trust Him.
• We aren’t careful with the hearts of others.

Unless we are intentional about standing firm in our beliefs and work to follow what God wants for our lives, we’ll be indistinguishable from the world.

No, thank you.

Here’s where it gets tricky.  We have to stand out without being judgmental.  You see, we are called to love… while being different.

Galatians 5:14 says this… “The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

This goose did nothing wrong by mingling in the pond with the ducks.  While he knew he’d never be one of them (nor did he want to be), maybe he just liked showing them how wonderful being a goose really was.

• He wasn’t there to bother, pester or ridicule.
• He didn’t feel or act superior.
• He wasn’t looking to become one of them.

I wonder if somehow he knew the state of these ducks, and was hoping some of his regal goose-ness would rub off.

Sisters, we were not created to blend in.  If we do, somethings not right.   You see, we are supposed to affect the world.  Not the other way around.

God planted us to grow here and now because He knew we’d have the ability to influence our communities in a profound way.  Not mirror them.

He commanded us to love others selflessly so we would reflect Him.  Not judge them.

Don’t try to blend in.  It’s not your legacy.

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