This was a text I got recently…

“Cookie Cutter Cookies are good.  Cookie Cutter Friends are crappy.”

Sometimes I have to wonder who reads my blogs.  I mean really, who the heck cares?  I’m just another person of the 6.8 billion people in the world today, why do you pick mine to read?  I kinda think it’s because I’m unique.  And so are you.  That’s why we’re friends (if we indeed are friends, if we aren’t, let’s start off by saying that we should be!).

I have a dear friend that wasn’t going to post a blog for the world to see because they felt it was opening the world (according to Facebook) to the deep parts of their brain.  I actually think it’s the depth of their heart that was being poured out, but that’s beside the point.  The other point was that they thought the blog was a little out there…and they were only writing for the heck of it.  Well, after spending a lot of time in introvert status lately, I pondered this for awhile today as it must have struck a nerve with me…I responded that they should post it for the world to see because even if it is ‘out there’ I think that’s kinda the point.  We’re all a little ‘out there’ in life…or at least I know I am!

We were all made uniquely.  In Psalm 139 David writes about how we were knit in our mother’s womb, fearfully and wonderfully made (paraphrased completely, but it’s there, I promise!).  This is actually is one of my favorite chapters because of how it expresses the depths of how much God not only loves us as they teach us in Sunday School…but it expresses how much we are known by God.  He knit us together, he has searched me and knows me (and you).  He is familiar with our ways.  And He still loves us.  Not only that, but He likes us so much that He chooses us.

Where do these two intersect?  Well, I read into my friend’s concern two ways…first, who cares? I mean really, they wrote the blog, but there’s 6.8 billion people in the world, who cares about what they have to say…and then the other portion, my blog is a little ‘out there’…well, both kinda struck a little nerve within me I guess.

“Who Cares?”
Each of us are unique. (I know, thankfully there’s not many anywhere near how unique I am…haha!)  Well, not to answer a question with a question, but what if David (author of several Psalms) said ‘Who Cares’? What if Moses said ‘Who Cares’?  What if the 12 disciples said ‘Who Cares’?  What if Jesus had said ‘Who Cares’?  History is changed by ordinary people willing to say things whether people care or not.  I’m writing this blog wondering if anyone will care other than me…but hey, if I don’t let people know my opinion, I’ll never know if anyone cares!

“Out There”
Everyone knows the story of Peter walking on water with Jesus, but if you think about it, those who told this story to their family and friends had to be thinking the same thing…their story of what had happened is kinda ‘out there’…I truly believe we are called to be a little different.  If we all had the same thoughts and opinions, wouldn’t life be boring?  If nobody ever said something that stretched the way I thought, or differed from my opinion I don’t think I’d have much of a personality today.  I thrive on people that stretch me in some way or another…whether it be a higher level of thinking, or simply a different view on a topic.  I like when people make me think about something in a new light.  I don’t like friends that only say things that are acceptable.  I want friends that have unique views.  I don’t want cookie cutter friends!

All this to say one thing…we all have a voice in this world, and we need to use it.  Our voice is of crucial importance…if indeed we are children of the King, we have to have something important to say!  The more we contain the things we think, the suppressed and congested our mind and souls get.  I’m as guilty or more guilty than the average person at not expressing myself enough.  Instead I bottle things up inside me and nobody ever gets to know the real me.  It’s time we step out of the boat and walk on water, having faith that what we have to say is important and what we have to say has value…that our circle of influence will not only still accept us for who God made us to be, but they will actually grow from it.  (I like cookie cutter cookies…especially with frosting to make them interesting!)

Friend of mine, you have important things to say, a unique and great way of saying it, and people need to hear what you have to say…don’t be embarrassed or ashamed in any way! Who knows, maybe what you have to say will change the world…