Fitting In

Everybody wants to fit in. Everyone wants to be wanted, included, appreciated by others.

But there's a problem with this. While we may desire to be just like everyone else, our goal here on earth is not to fit in. We aren't supposed to be like everyone else. In fact, the rest of the world is supposed to hate us.

Now, just because you're a Christian, it doesn't mean you can't desire to fit in. I don't know anyone who doesn't. While many of my friends may joke around, saying that I have no desire to be like everyone else. And while that may truly be what they see in me, it's all a screen.

Everybody puts up screens to hide their insecurities. For some people, it's being so much like someone else that you're too busy being them to be yourself. Others put other people down to make themselves feel "cooler". My screen is different, and I would argue that it's not an average one. I put up the screen of carelessness. I couldn't care less what people think about me. And, while that's true to a certain extent, there are times in my life when I wish I could be just like everyone else, and that I didn't have to act like a Little Christ.

But, see, the blessing about this being my screen, is that, as much as I want to fit in, it will never be enough to change who I am. I will not change the way I am, the way I act, or what I believe for someone else. Whether it be the president, a little kid, or Lady Gaga, I would be the same Tori with all of them.

What's your screen? You'll be surprised at how much truth you're confronted with when you discover it. While you may not be able to completely eliminate it, try to start slowly chipping away at it. After a while, it will be nothing but a tattered old mosquito net, blowing in front of you. And, trust me, it's worth it to get rid of it.

Who Am I?

I love to take personality quizzes. I am a very introspective person, and they give me insight into who I am and how I act in certain situations.

Over the years, I've been told by these quizzes that I am like Cinderella, Jane Bennet (Pride & Prejudice), and Sam (The Lord of the Rings). I've been told that I am very loyal person, that I love my family, and that I have very strong morals.

But, along with these results, comes a percentage. 24% of people got this result. 50%, 72%, 98%. If only a hundred people had taken a certain quiz, and only 10% had gotten the same result as me, that's still 10 people who are exactly like me.

I didn't like that at all. Who am I? How am I different than all those other people who took the quiz?

When I would take more advanced personality tests, I was thrust into one of sixteen personality types. Mine described me perfectly. While I was happy to get insight into the way I act and why I act that way, I was still disappointed. 1 in every 16 people were just like this. They fit into this category too. How was I different?

My crisis was further brought to the surface by social groups at school, or just in general. I hoped I wasn't a geek, I definitely wasn't a jock or a cheerleader-type, and I wasn't goth or emo either. I didn't really fit into any of the stereotypes. So who was I? Where did I fit in?

While I may never fit into a certain stereotype here on earth, I can be rest assured that I will fit right in when I get to Heaven. Of course I won't fit in to any stereotypes on earth! I'm not of the earth, my home is in God's Kingdom. My question was finally answered!

Who am I? I am a daughter of God! He made me exactly the way he wants me to be. He created me to love classical music, to have a fierce passion for orphans, to love to write! He didn't want me to fit into any of the world's stereotypes, just His.

He made you that way too. No matter what the percentages say, there is no one on earth who is exactly like you.