Aj Schwanz

A NonConformist Splat!

I love to read the very book
That other kids ignore.
I therefore read the phone book
From Abbott to Zymore.

I never watch the TV shows
That all my friends must see,
I watch the weather channel
Till eleven thirty-three!

And when I hear of big events
Where the massive crowds have gone,
I always hurry somewhere else
So I can be alone.

Because my friends refused to jump
Off of a cliff today,
I, the nonconformist, jumped
I’m very proud to sa . . . a. . . a. .¬† . a. . . .a. . . .a . . . a. . . ay.

Conformity, what’s that?
Good grief . . . help . . . splat!

~Calvin Miller

I’ve heard a lot about being counter-cultural today.¬† Many topics are fantastic:¬† spending money responsibly, being wise stewards of our resources, getting unplugged from advertising, not being part of the American consumer machine, going organic/biodiesel/community-conscious.¬† But sometimes our zealousness in being nonconformist can contain the same elements of conformity:¬† doing things of our own desire/will power/control, not thinking about the longterm effects, not taking into consideration the Spirit’s desires.

• If I decide to buy all organic, my grocery bill would probably increase:¬† would I be able to give as much to causes I feel compassion for?

• If I decide to wear Quaker-gray, would I be seen more for my actions rather than my self?¬† I.e., would I be putting up barriers against folks, seeming to be not as approachable?

• If I biked everywhere, I wouldn’t be out and about in my hometown nearly as much:¬† would I still have the level of friendship with folks who work in Newberg?

So, neither here nor there, eh?¬† So where do we go?¬† I’m not advocating for conformity or nonconformity; rather, I’m reminding us to be sensitive to the proddings of the Spirit.¬† Even if something’s good, when we do it of our own power without God’s leading, it has the potential of going splat.