Who Says Society Says?

I read an interesting "Lifestyle" article on a NZ news website the other day - all about hair.  Apparently "frizzy" hair is possibly making a comeback - thanks, in part, to celebreties like Solange Knowles.  My initial reaction was "YUSS!!!!" with an imaginary fistpump. There is good reason WookieeMan sometimes refers to me as sporting the windswept and interesting look - even on a day when there may be no wind.  Reading the rest of the article, the author then started talking about The Best Products To Use For That Hair Type. You probably know the type - ordinary folk would probably need to choose between buying these products or feeding the family that week.

On one hand, that could be good news for people like moi.  On the other hand, it seems like yet another indication of exactly how much impact there is from the world around us. I mean, when did we start getting more concerned about labels, and brands, and Keeping Up With The Joneses, Smiths, Browns, or Kardashians?  What's with that?  Who said we HAVE to have the latest gizmowhosmagat that will skype, fold your laundry and cook your meals at the same time? (Mind you, that has possibilities...)

Several years ago, I knew an elderly couple in smalltown NZ (they had THE CUTEST little poodle named Tricky).  Mrs T was a member of my then church, while Mr T wasn't.  In fact, from all accounts, he didn't socialise much at all.  My little sis BlondFT and I would go and visit them occasionally. Well, Mr T became terminally ill.  Sometimes I would go for a visit, and sit and talk with him, or read to him.  I found out later that I was one of the few people who he was willing to see.  He felt that with me, "what you see is what you get."

Now this may sound all very Pat-Myself-On-The-Backish.  But there is a point.  Coming from someone like him, that was a tremendous compliment,  one that I have not only held on to in the years since, but have tried to be worthy of.  It took me 30 years or so to discover that I'm an OK person (contrary to what I had come to believe up till that point), and I've been building on it ever since.  Surprisingly, I found the best way to do it - is be myself.

It doesn't matter what others think of us:  we're too fat/skinny, pretty/ugly, dress like a streetwalker/dress like our grandparents, prudish/worldly... you get the idea.  What REALLY matters is that we are who we are.  God made us to be individuals, not off a production line.  He knows every hair on our head (Luke 12:6-7); the plans He has for us (Jeremiah 29:11); He gave each of us our own gifts - skills, things we're good at.  (And let's not forget one very important point:  God doesn't make junk, so who are we to contradict Him and say "yes He did with me"?)

"I've just got the latest iPhone 84", your friends brag to you while swanning around in their designer jeans by whoever, while sipping their soymilk-decaf-chai-latte-with-organic-honey ("because I really MUST lose another 2 kgs so that I can fit into the diVINE dress that was the centre of attention at Paris Fashion Week"). "Oh - are you still using an iPod 73? How quaint and cute.  Do they still make parts for those?"  

Just because everyone else does it - doesn't make it right.  At no time do we need to compromise our principles and values for ANYONE - especially not to fit in with the crowd.

Who knows?  If you make a stand (even if it's just quietly to yourself), there could be someone else who has been wanting to break free of "social bondage" - someone else might just take notice, and follow your lead.

And now, to paraphrase Richard Simmons,  go out there, and have an awesome day!!  And I'll see ya later :-)