Transforming
Conforming is easy--you just follow the crowd. Wear the newest fashions, cut your hair in the latest style, use the currently popular slang. If you can afford it, you can do it.
If you're unsure about what to do, just check any school. The most conforming schools insist that kids wear uniforms: polo shirts in the prescribed colors, khaki or navy pants or, for girls, a coordinating navy or plaid skirt or jumper. But even schools with lax dress codes are full of students and teachers who conform by wearing the latest contemporary fashion. T-shirts and jeans remain the most popular clothing, with shorts, sweats, and even pajama pants in the running for the most comfortable school attire.
For people who want to conform, smart phones are a must; flip phones are sadly out-of-date, and we shouldn't even mention corded house phones. Young kids whose parents give them talk-and-text-only phones are careful to keep that information to themselves as they struggle to fit in with their peers.
In our affluent world of conformation, aging cars and tiny homes have often become symbols of poverty rather than frugality. Parents compete to see how many after-achool activities they can cram into their children's days. Technical literacy trumps reading books and playing outdoors. People often look down on others who choose to work with their hands instead of sitting at a desk, on a computer, all day long.
I've rarely been good at conforming. Living in a hotel, from kindergarten until it was time for me to graduate from high school, was good practice for doing things differently from everyone else. As an adult, I've worn dresses when most people wear jeans, just because I want to. I drink ice water when others drink coffee or iced tea, soft drinks or beer. I walk two or three miles a day while others go to the gym or watch TV or play video games. At a time when Christians are criticized for even existing, I choose to read the Bible cover-to-cover every year because I want to better know the God who loves me; I engage in children's ministry and women's ministry, and help lead worship at my church, because I love God and want to serve him. I write a blog (and books) while other retirees travel or go out for coffee.
Now, I admit I would like to travel to the parts of our country, and even the world, where I have never been, because I really do like to explore new places and cultures. Besides, traveling gives me more to write about.
I do think that we need to examine our motives. Do we do what we do because it is right, or because everyone else is doing it? Do we follow our dreams, even when they seem farfetched, or do we stick to the safe route, doing what society expects of us? Do we stay in our normal, risk-free ruts, or do we step out in faith, asking God to lead us where he wants us to go?
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I am sure you are aware of the Transformer toys and movies that captivate so many children and adults. Wouldn't it be great if we, too, could transform ourselves into super heroes so we could change the world in positive ways? It could be argued that certain occupations lend themselves well to the theory of transformation: firefighters step into their protective gear and leap into their specialized vehicles, ready to conquer raging fires; surgeons don scrubs, masks, gloves, and magnifying goggles in their quests to fight disease and save lives; ordinary people can be transformed through specialized education to become teachers, lawyers, veterinarians, constructions workers, plumbers--this short list can go on and on.
Whatever their occupation, people can choose to make a difference in our world, but it takes purposeful determination, integrity, and intentionality, as well as a lot of hard work and, even then, the outcome is never guaranteed. However, if you really want to be transformed, you need to turn to the only one who can truly change you into the best you can be. God sent his only Son, Jesus, to make our transformation possible. He is just waiting to be asked.
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