It was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:13-14(a)
I have spent most of my life trying to fit in…. sure that there had to be something wrong with me. I simply preferred the company of a book or one or two friends to a more lively or congregant setting. I found myself unwilling to take part in discussions as my words were either ignored or met with upraised eyebrows. Over the years I worked at ‘fitting in’ until I finally realized that that wasn't who and what I was.
Now the pandemic restrictions are being or have been erased, I find that old feeling returning. Perhaps you’re an extrovert and glad to be in the midst of people again, to eat
inside restaurants and bars, to go to indoor parties, to take a bus trip, to go to the theatre, or to have people to your home. While on the other hand, I am not comfortable indoors without a mask (and not always even then). Once again I feel the pressure both spoken and unspoken to conform. The excerpt from Psalm 139 reminds me that I was the person I am today long before I was born and that I should be celebrating who that person is, not trying to
change her into what others perceive as the norm.
And so I’ll leave you with this thought … celebrate who you are while recognizing that not everyone reacts to the pressures of life the same way and allowing others the freedom to make their own choices without pressure for we are all (in the words of the psalmist) ‘fearfully and wonderfully made”.
Hi Lynn
ReplyDeleteIt reminds me of me of these words,". TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE
This really can't be disputed
No one theoretically. NO OND
Lynn, as a fellow introvert I totally understand. I find myself often exhausted with the return to activities as introverts are naturally drained by all of these interactions...even when you like people! I find your observations interesting and valid and value you as a friend. We are each "uniquely and wonderfully made "to be who God intended us to be...sometimes to notice the little things in solitude the world needs to be aware of also. We all have our place in the universe.
ReplyDeleteJudy Imrie