Conformity
I woke up early on the morning of June 22, 2023. We were at our condo at the beach, so I went out on the balcony and watched the sunrise over the water. I took this photo of boats that were stopped just outside the East Pass Jetty while the experienced fishermen on board collected bait.
It’s funny how the resting boats usually face into the wind. I’ve read the physics explanation that a boat does this to “minimize its resistance to the wind, reducing the torques trying to rotate it around its pivot point.”
But not everyone conforms. The few boats facing downwind may be causing some problems or at least may be getting scoffed at by others.
I guess it’s not surprising that the seabirds on the beach do the same thing…mostly all face into the wind to reduce resistance. But there always seems to be some bird going its own direction.
Do you ever feel like you’re alone…swimming against the flow? Like most of those around you are heading in a direction that causes the least resistance within this crazy culture in which we find ourselves. Paul spoke to this in his letter to the Romans.
“Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God – what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.”
Romans 12:2 NET
We are called to be different…not necessarily apart…but not conformed to what is going on around us. It seems that resisting conformity is necessary for our minds to be renewed and transformed in the knowledge of God’s will for us.
Don’t worry if you often feel that you are different…on a very narrow path…almost alone. Better to worry if you’re always going the same direction; thinking and behaving the same as everyone around you. If you are closely following Christ, there will be a difference. Jesus was the ultimate nonconformist. Let Him renew your mind.
