I think the idea of special is one that really bothers me because I think it is one that has really penetrated our society and collective philosophy. I grew up in school being told that everyone is special and that I was apart of a generation that could change the world. I think the last part of that is funny, because that is innate to every generation. Anyway, I have never liked that word of special because it is used too liberally and has negatively impacted my generation and the ones that follow, especially when people were using it, they usually were intending the word uniqueness.
I believe that everyone is their own person and have their own thoughts and have their own path even if it does parallel several others. They are given a different environment with different family situations and different towns and schools. People from all over the world might make similar choices to you, but there are so many aspects to a person's being, character, history, thought process and perspective that they are their own.
Special on the other hand implies that you have something that is above and beyond everybody else. Whether it is some special talent or skill that rises above all the rest or that you have been given an earth shaking responsibility that could change the world. That is what special is. It is interesting because people use the terms unique and special interchangeably which has deceived many people think that they are some bright shining star high above all the rest. Look at American Idol and the continual parade of delusion that trots out their underdeveloped or simply non-existent skill or talent. These people are shocked to have learned 20 years too late that they are not gifted singers and that clearly the tuned ears of professionals are the ones that are mistaken. They have come to believe that their secret talent is what's going to rescue them from their dull lives and bring them the celebrity life that they deserve because they are special.
Look at movies. They do not help at all. Aside from the movie "Fame", most of those coming of age movies have some young protagonist who wants to pursue their dream of being the world's greatest musician/filmmaker/Rolling Stone article writer and they endure the trials of their career choice despite the objections of their parents or what all those mentors have to say and eventually they make it. You never hear of the other 99% of endings to those stories where they realize that they don't have the real discipline, fortune, skill or talent to actually make that dream become a reality and they are left in a wasteland of disillusionment of who they have determined themselves to be.
Even if a person doesn't actually pursue their dream, they still believe that if they really wanted to, they could make it which is the great deception of people's egos. Seriously, if you asked the guy working at the burger joint that if he really put all his effort into his dream of becoming the next Jimi Hendrix or Jim Morrison or Fred Durst, they would say that yes, they could they just don't want the lifestyle or to buckle down and do it or whatever other reason. They realize it would take work and time, but they frequently believe that they could if given time, money, and resources because they know they have some special gift or message for the world. The reality way more often than not that no you couldn't.
It has crept into our North American thought so much, that it even creeps into our theology. We believe that God has some special plan just for us and we have to be primarily concerned with determining what that is. People hold back until they hear that magic voice that commands them to go forth and do whatever God says. The reality is that God does have a call on our lives, but it is way more basic than people wish. Love God and love others. That is it. Now, there may be some that get some grand task given to them from on high, but chances are that that person is not you or me. We have been given a sphere of influence and that is what we are responsible for. We are meant to reach out to those that we can love and influence. We are not going to save the world. You are not Moses. You are not Solomon. You are not John. You definitely are not Jesus. Most likely, you're not one of the people mentioned in the genealogies. You are not a beautiful snowflake. Ok, that one was maybe a little harsh. But it's that kind of message that is drowned out by so much of the media and culture that surrounds us. We are being coddled and not pushed.
Here's the thing. We are unique, just (most likely) not special. At least special on a cosmic scale. However, we are special to some people. I think of my friends as special people because I have a relationship with them. I can see that divine spark in them. I have different bonds with different people. When you are in love, you have a special connection to that person you're in love with. And you're special to them. The rest of the world could disappear, but if you're with the one you love, then it's ok.
Don't bother with thinking that you are special, because you are setting yourself up for a grand disappointment. If God has some special plan for you, He'll make sure you know. In the mean time, reach out to those around you. Find the divine spark in them. Make them special to you.
"You know what you are
You're gonna be a star
Wing is written on your feet
Your achilles heel is a tendency to dream
But you've know that from the beginning
You didn't have to go so far
You didn't have to go."
- "All the Way to Reno" from R.E.M.'s album "Reveal"
3 comments:
Thanks for the reminder, all my grandiose egotistical ideas of being a frozen microscopic piece of water are dashed. Now I'll never be a world famous artist with larger than life opinions of myself. Truely, I thank you Dave Rae. I also object to the rampant ego feeding idea of specialness that hinders us from embracing what our true calling is. Especially the role of artists (performing or otherwise) in our society. Early artists and especially Christian ones, did not sign their art because they believed that anything created was from the Holy Spirit and that they merely allowed the creative act of God to flow through them. During the Renaissance artist lost their anonymity. By the romantic period, Artists were super humans who possessed more insight and genius than other human beings. Unfortunately this idea has not lost any steam. Not only that, anyone possessing any talent or skill is obligated to give their gift to the world. They are seen as special and therefore carry the responsibility of that specialness. For example does anyone one else find the fact that Bono's (a singer) opinion about third world development means more than the political leaders of those countries absurd. Can anyone name someone who is involved with international aid who is not first and actor, singer or artist?
How did we allow the idea of being vessels to be used by God become the idea that God has made us special vessels? The definition of a vessel is a hollow concave object, the contents are not of the vessel. Is it possible that we are so full of ourselves and our specialness that we no longer can pour out that which comes from God?
Perhaps we could exercise our ability to listen to God's opinion of the third world instead of Bonos'. Perhaps we could learn to allow that which is truely special to flow through us unhindered. Perhaps we should see specialness and self worth as pride. Humbleness use to be defined as "Marked by meekness or modesty in behavior, attitude, or spirit; not arrogant or prideful" now it is commonly defined as "having a feeling of insignificance, inferiority, subservience, etc." Our culture would love nothing more than for people to continue to stroke their own ego. In drastic contradiction to Christ who calls for humility and servant hood, who does not ask this because He thinks of us as insignificant or inferior, but asks this of us in order to be able to flow His divine creative potential through us. Perhaps if we were willing to let go of our specialness and embrace our uniqueness in Christ we could create something better than American Idol for the world to see.
"You definitely are not Jesus."
That's very quotable. I like your thoughts, old man. You're right, none of us has something essential to share that cannot be shared by everyone else, too.
It'll be good to hang out again. I'll buy you a Blizzard. I mean, you'll buy me a Blizzard.
As for Queen Latifah,
"Perhaps we could learn to allow that which is truly special to flow through us unhindered."
I like that.
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