Do you ever feel odd? Out of place? Peculiar?
As I was walking on the property of the Life Action Lodge located in Buchanan, Michigan, I spotted an unusual tree. It was growing sideways, as though it was struggling to reach toward the sky, or as if someone had taken a saw and cut part of it off. What had happened to this tree?
Had it been diseased and someone pruned it?
Had lightning hit causing part of it to fall off?
Had it been overshadowed by larger trees and grown crooked in an attempt to receive sunlight?
Whatever had occurred, this tree was different than all the other trees.
Did the tree know how weird, different, and peculiar it was? Had others stopped to stare at it?
As I finished my walk, all I could do was think about that unusual tree.
Somehow I related to that tree.
God is continually pruning me and there are times when I am not lovely to look at. There are attitudes hidden in my heart that He is continually pruning.
There are circumstances in my life that may make my story seem peculiar to others. Life has happened, sometimes like lightning striking, altering what life once was.
At times I have felt overshadowed by other trees and have had to strive to be in the sunlight.
Yet, the uniqueness of that tree is what caused me to stop, to ponder, and to take notice.
Do you ever feel odd? Out of place? Unusual? Peculiar?
If so, maybe it is that very uniqueness of your life that will cause people to stop, to ponder, and to consider why you are different.
Take time today to thank the Lord for your uniqueness, for circumstances that have come into your life that might cause you to look, act, and live differently than everyone else.
God created us to live in community but He did not create us to live in sameness. He created us to be unique individuals who will cause others around us to stop and consider His glory and wonder in our lives.
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that you should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” I Peter 2:9
