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I have a melancholy temperament and often feel the need to be understood.  I like knowing I’m on the same page with others and tend to work hard to articulate or extrapolate meaning.  I cherish this part of me when it’s nested in God; but for the struggling mind in me it can be a false cry for conformity.  How often have I looked for validation through uniformity with others?

When I need to “be like you” to feel credible then even a different outlook will make me auto-adjust or over-correct my position to make sure I’m rightly understood.  It’s as though any difference between us must be relegated to simple misunderstandings. I’m convinced if you just understand me, you’ll agree with me; and if you agree, then my silent cry for conformity is met.

I reject my uniqueness when I suspect others of being better than me.  Comparison is the number one enemy of self-acceptance.  My fear of being different (and more subtle craving for others to “see it the way I see it”) is rooted in a misunderstanding of union.

I erroneously expect Christ in me to be the exact reflection of Christ in you. When He isn’t, I presume one of us is defective (usually me, but occasionally you). Kicking into conformity mode, I back paddle my position.  If I think you’re amiss, I’ll try to shift your position by re-explaining mine.  If needed, I’ll pull out bigger guns and cite my inner knowing or what the Lord’s showing me…anything to persuade you that God in me is more accurate than God in you. Please know, these actions are not conscious, they’re autonomic in nature; it is “false self” preservation at its finest.

Yet another paradox; Christ is the same, but different.  His Spirit unifies us; His “sameness” is recognizable in each.  And yet, this same Christ is expressed differently in everyone and procures different answers and solutions to life’s complexities.  His heart is more passionate in one than in another on any given subject.  He may ache for political reform in one and will move that person into action; in another He may ache for personal reform and move them to action of another kind.  In both, love is the motive, execution, and conclusion.

A difference in passions is not a lack of involvement in the human condition.  We’re different parts of the same body…but remain of one heart, mind, and spirit. To applaud our differences is to affirm our uniqueness.  Singularity of purpose mixed with multitudinous expression and execution is the key to love gracefully conquering all.