Different is good....right?

Day 22 of the 30 days of Blogging Challenge - What makes you different from everyone else?


I'm still trying to decide what exactly it is that is meant by being different. Two things came to mind immediately; the first more serious and the second a little childish, but both teach the same lesson.


I thought of a talk I heard a few years ago by James E. Faust about Joan of Arc and what made her different. He spoke about her being a simple farm girl who saw a need and stepped up to help liberate her country from oppression. At the end of the talk he asks three interesting questions.

1. 1. People laughed at Joan in the beginning. Why did they come to respect and follow her?
2. 2. What are some ways in which you might need to be different from others in order to follow your conscience and obey the Lord?
3. 3. Joan of Arc suffered death for following her beliefs. What are some things you fear you might suffer for following yours? How can you find courage to follow them anyway?

I would say faith, hope, determination, are all factors that played a role in making Joan who she was. Different? I don't know, but worthy of her call.

The second thought came while watching Veggie Tales with Barec tonight. We watch the Adventures of Minnesota Cuke and Noah's Umbrella. (Very witty to say the least) The lesson was that sometimes people will laugh at you for making the right decision, but the fact the its the right decision doesn't change. Just like Noah building the arc despite the ridicule he received from his peers. So is Noah any different than Joan of Arc? I think not. Faith, hope and determination made him great. 

So, how do I fit in to this schema of being different by being the same? Some would say that I am different because I write like a girl or enjoy scrapbooking. Some would say that I'm a little quirky and reserved. I would say that I'm not trying to be different, I'm just trying to do what I believe is right. Through faith, hope and determination. If that makes me different, then so be it. If it makes me the same, that's fine too.