Bester and the status Quo. Lesson #2 from my cat.

My cat Bester continues to be my muse this week. Last week I wrote how she inspired me to be driven and dedicated by my priorities. This week however she has reminded me of how I do not want to live.

Bester, is a black cat, she has at most three white hairs on her chest but the rest is all gloriously black and shiny. The only other color found on her is her startling green eyes or her cute little pink mouth when she opens it to meow. Bester has always loved to blend in, she will sit on anything black in an attempt to fit into her surroundings. I first noticed this in Toronto with her obsession of stealing our black socks and putting them all in a corner to sit on, or the way she claimed our black leather reading chair as her own. Since we have moved to Nassau, this blending in has gotten a bit worse. I now find her atop our black coffee table which is not a condoned activity by the way but while the humans are away, the cat will play. The funniest however is pictured below. In our living room here in Nassau the floor has a black border on it, I will often find (by accidentally kicking or stepping on ) Bester here on the black line trying to blend in amidst a sea of white.

I really do not know what makes her want to blend in but that does not matter to me, what matters is that she wants to blend in. I know that feeling, my default position is to try to blend in and hope no one notices me, that way I cannot mess up too bad. If I fit in well enough I will be more accepted, I will take less chances and the status quo will continue. To keep status quo is really quite easy, I can live in my little comfy bubble, take no risks and make no difference.

To step outside my comfort zone would be like Bester finding rest on the white part of the floor, I would stand out more and would be at greater risk for ridicule.

The reality is I have a choice, to hide or not to hide, to find situations that I can maintain status quo with or find those who I must step up and love as Christ wants me to love. This choice is a moment to moment decision, it is decision that is risky, hard and scary but one I try to choose every day. See I want to stick out, I want to be different (no comments here!!) I ought to be different after realizing the amazing love that God has for me, my life ought to reflect that truth. I want people to be able to see my life, my every day life and question what makes me tick. I do not want to be easy to figure out, I want to create a stir and make people notice that I am different because of Christ, because of His love for me. Sorry Bester, maintaining status quo just does not cut it, it is a dull and passionless life and not one I can live after getting to know Jesus. So while stepping off the line is risky and scary I daily choose to be different so others may start experiencing the love of God too.

One of my favorite songs to listen to during my workouts is written out below, I love it!!.

Shine on and stick out my friends, he has called you to follow Him and not the Status Quo.

Brave
(Nichole Nordeman, Jay Joyce)

The gate is wide
The road is paved in moderation
The crowd is kind and quick to pull you in
Welcome to the middle ground
You're safe and sound and
Until now, it's where I've been

'Cause it's been fear that ties me down to everything
But it's been love, your love, that cuts the strings
So long status quo
I think I just let go
You make me want to be brave
The way it always was
Is no longer good enough
You make me want to be brave
Brave, brave

I am small
And I speak when I'm spoken to
But I am willing to risk it all
I say your name
Just your name and I'm ready to jump
Even ready to fall
Why did I take this vow of compromise?
Why did I try to keep it all inside?

I've never known a fire that didn't begin with a flame
Every storm will start with just a drop of rain
But if you believe in me, that changes everything

2005 Birdwing Music / Birdboy Songs (ASCAP), admin. by EMI CMG Publishing / Sony/ATV Songs LLC / JohnnyO Music (BMI)
© 2005 Sparrow

Christian lyrics - BRAVE LYRICS - NICHOLE NORDEMAN