It's just my junk

What does your look communicate about you?

I was recently at a National Youth Pastor Event ( it has a name but I am trying to write this with some grace too….) while at the event several things became apparent to me….. maybe I am a bit off or sounding judgmental but it is where I land today.

Some of the participants had a typical hipster look to them:

• Flip Flops
• Tattoos
• Flannel shirts
• Skinny sweats or jeans
• Ear rings and even man buns
• Apple everything (phone, ipad, watch, mac book etc)
• Straight billed hat ( I threw this in here since everyone knows you bend the bill… LOL)

Yet others looked more business

• Collared shirts
• Dress shoes
• Ties….. ooh ties….
• A Franklyn Timer folder
• Hair nicely trimmed

Others looked confused

• Dressed like everyone else
• Jeans
• Shoes
• T-shirts
• Some bald
• Shorts
• Skirts

While at the location (hotel) a flight crew was leaving to catch a flight… they had

• Uniforms
• Women had some sort of white scarf flowing
• Polished shoes
• Flight bags (all matching)
• Walked a calculated distance from one another
• professionalism
• they exhibit a look of “Hey, I know you want to be me..” but with a grace and modesty.

(believe it or not it was the United Arab Emirates flight crew)

Each of these groups represent something or someone, some are a blend of other group.

How do the groups speak to me?

 

The hipster group comes across young, excited, naive, confused, passionate and even at times together and unified.

The Business group comes across as driven, unattached, cutthroat, and ready to add you to their agenda.

The confused group comes across as settling in, rhythm, paces yet in a hurry, but also willing to do what it takes to get the job done.

The flight crew… I will admit caught my attention and that of the others near me… they had a presence, professionalism, grace, and calm about them.

 

I know we are all pursuing a goal, some seasons I can dwell in the hipster mode (though I don’t own a flannel shirt nor do I plan to).

Some seasons in my ministry year I am functioning in the business mode and I am not just referring to board meetings.

Most of the time I am settled in the confused mode…. Not confused with what or how I am doing but within seasons.

The Group I really want to dwell in is the flight crew. I am not kidding you, they walked through as if to say (without words) I know you noticed me, I know you are wondering can I be that and finally I know your life has been marked (altered) due to this sighting… Notice I didn’t mention talking to them… I just watched them come down the escalator; walk towards and through the Hotel door…. I was struck and God began to use them to inspire me to pen this blog.

 

Think about who you are… How has God wired you, created you and formed you in His image? How are you set apart?

 

We all can easily fit into the hipster (fun loving, go with it naïve eyes), or the Business (all work no play at any cost) and the confused (doing what we can when we can with purpose to get it done) or we can strive to be like the Flight crew…. Graceful, aggressive, patent but calculated, happy but ready for action.

God has designed us uniquely, we can dwell in each category, move from one to another but I know for me… I want to be remembered for who I am in through Christ, through the actions and interactions with those outside and inside the church. I am striving to be an impact player for Jesus.

I will laugh at some of the hipster actions and looks, will feel intimidated, in awe with the business actions and looks, will feel comfortable in my confused dwelling (I reside here most of the time). But I long to be in that flight crew space and look.

 

Philippians 3:14 “Press on towards the goal to win the prize….”
We need to keep striving to be who we are in Christ.