Weirdness

I am currently reading Craig Groeschel's book Weird: Because normal isn't working and it has really made me start looking at areas in my life where I look like everyone else. The first subject he addresses is time and the million dollar question is "Do I spend my time like the majority of our population or am I weird?"

Let's take a look at normal first. You get up at the crack of dawn and move some laundry from the washer to the dryer, do some dishes, and get breakfast started. Get the kids up, dressed, and to the breakfast table. Turn on the TV to catch the news and weather. If you are technically addicted (like we talked about in my last blog), you get on the computer to check your facebook, e-mail, twitter, etc. Or maybe you are one of those that gets up at the last minute, shouts at everyone to hurry up, and flies out the door 10 minutes late while the kids eat a pop tart in the car on the way to school. After school, you take the kids to soccer practice, gymnastics, dance lessons, karate sessions or any number of other options that are available for our children these days. You drive through McDonald's, Taco Bell, or Wendy's on your way home, eat half of it in the car and the other half at home in front of the TV. Then it's time for homework, baths, and possibly more TV. You drop into bed at 11:00 or later, exhausted from the day.

Now, let's look at wierdness for a minute. You get up at the crack of dawn because that is the only time that the house is quiet enough to spend some alone time with the Lord. The routine is basically the same but without the stress, screaming, or rushing. You spend your day at work or at home being productive and looking for opportunities to share Jesus with whoever you meet. You always have a smile on your face and an encouraging word on your lips. The kids come home from school and go immediately to finish their homework without whining or complaining, then race outside to run and play until dinner time. You have dinner on the table at an appropriate time, there is stimulating conversation from everyone in the family, followed by group games or story reading before baths and bedtime. When all is quiet in the house again, you spend time reading the latest inspirational book while taking notes on how to apply it to your life. You slip into bed at 10:00, ready to face another day.

Okay, I know what you're thinking...be serious!! That never happens! You're right--that's why it's weird. But could it happen? I believe at least parts of it could. Or at least I could move toward making parts of it happen. And actually I know families that look very close to this weird model so it really can be done.

The book talks about a lot of other areas where weirdness can exist. It is making me more aware of my areas that don't really look any different than anyone else in the world. I've decided to make a concerted effort to look "weirder." How do you look?