Be Different

I love to people watch and one of my favorite places to do it is in my university’s eating area. Over time, however, I realized that sitting there I would get to do much more than just watch…I would also get to listen. I promise I’m not a creeper and don’t try to listen to anyone in particular, but I have overheard some interesting conversations over the past few semesters. Sitting in the Commons and listening is always a reminder of what a lost and hurting world that we live in. The things that people dwell on and consider to be important never cease to amaze me, especially in college where conversation typically includes talk of the latest drug, Plan B contraception and plans for clubbing over the weekend.  I try not to be too surprised when I hear this type of talk, but my heart is soft and it often hurts.

Commitment to serve. What a beautiful picture. 

The other day I was sitting at a table right next to two girls. Their conversation made me perk up my ears because it sounded like they were talking about me. Okay, so they weren’t talking about me, but they were talking about a couple that they know that recently got engaged. It sounded like they were a young couple, so the girls were talking about how crazy it is to get married so young. Then, they mentioned that the girl who was getting married had never been kissed and that she was saving her kiss for the man that she would marry. “Why on earth would she want to do that?” They questioned.  The girls then began chatting about the guy’s proposal. As part of the proposal, he had secretly set up everything he needed to wash her feet following the ring and the question. Christian young women would probably swoon at that idea. The washing of feet is such a symbol of love, especially for your future spouse to humble himself at your feet. At least, that is what I think. But these girls, oh, they ripped this guy apart. “What a weird thing to do!” “Why did he do that?” “I would not want someone to wash MY feet when I am proposed to.”  

The comments coming from these girls represent the world. The world thinks that Christians are freaks. They think that we are so weird. They just don’t understand. They don’t understand the joy that comes from a relationship with the Lord; God’s grace and the freedom from sin. These girls didn’t know the precious gift that purity is; being able to save everything possible for marriage. Christian and I know and have prepared ourselves for the fact that some people are not going to be the most supportive of us getting married so young. The world tells us to finish college and get a job, to own a house and two cars and live together for awhile to see if we are truly compatible. But what they don’t understand is that we will be going into our marriage young and in love and with minimal baggage. We don’t have junk from past relationships to carry into our marriage like most thirty-year-olds that are getting married do. We don’t have it all figured out by any means, but thank goodness we have wise and godly parents and mentors spurring us on to become closer to each other and to Christ.

I challenge you to be okay with being different. You can be sure that there will be people, like these girls in the Commons, who will talk about you behind your back. They will talk about how weird you are for living your life for God. You may even have people say straight up to your face that you are crazy. I challenge you to smile and realize that they just don’t understand. Realize that and pray that someday they will.