I've always been different from my peers. Period. But the crazy part is that I don't think I realized this until like now/recently. Meaning I've never owned up to being different, I don't think. Well let me take that back. I've known that I'm different in certain characteristics from others. I know I don't think like most but I've never viewed it holistically but now I do believe I'm a different breed. And it was intentional. Meaning it wasn't a mistake. It was by design.

Before now, I don't think I would've mentioned this out loud to anyone yet here I'm confessing it. Before now, I sort of kept me to myself. The random thoughts. The mental evaluations I conduct, the character revelations, the realities that unfolded…I mean my mind processes things differently. With so much going on in the world around me, I can often relate to it all. Meaning most folks only see one side to any given situation. I often can see multiple views and can understand how each can come into play coupled with various personalities, situations, and perceptions. Yep, I can see just how that thing transpired and shake my head.

What is this called I wonder. Is it a gift? Ummm I'm not sure I'd call it that. But it can be a blessing and a curse, I think, sort of. Reason being…it's hard to see things develop around me and not be able to stop it or clearly articulate to others. It's hard to explain the big picture when so many miss the obvious. I can speak until I'm blue in the face and some folks just want to believe what they want to believe. So very closed minded. But hey, that's a blessing and curse as well. As I'm closed minded about some things too.

For instance, I'm closed minded about my Faith. My faith is in Jesus Christ as Lord. I believe in the Trinity (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit). I don't let "woke folks" feed me Wikipedia and I all of a sudden stop going to church. I can read or not read. I can believe or not believe. But one thing is for sure, I can't run from my convictions. So for me…the price of being at the church when the doors open and giving the church folks my money…oh and worshiping the white man's religion…none of that motivates me to hit google to find a way to discredit my Faith. And from that motive, go on a quest of placing stumbling blocks in front of others that remain back.

Commercial break…when people swear black folks are stupid for believing Jesus is a white man or following the white man's religion; this is what I often say to myself "but isn't the white man following that same religion? Like have you been to their church? They are reading the same bible. Or did I miss the white only Lifeway Christian store or something?

And I get it. Most that believe this refer to slavery times when the slaves' master or churches back then would READ to the slaves how slavery was permissible in the Bible. I all capped READ for a reason. Ever heard the saying "read and get an understanding for yourself?" But recall slaves weren't allowed to read. I often wonder if the folks who claim this actually read Exodus. Well from my studies of the Old Testament in general, I learned of the townsfolk at that time. I also realized that those townspeople can be viewed or compared to the people of today. Today we have rules and traditions and customs as they did back then. But what makes what we are doing a direct correlation to God? For instance, I believe in God. So if I say I believe it's ok to steal, how does that correlate to stealing being ok in the eyes of God? So back to Exodus, why would slavery be a result of God, yet He still sends Moses to get His people out? Why put all that stress on Moses dealing with them ungrateful grumbling people?

The Old Testament reveals to me the customs and laws of that time AND God. Let me say that again. I see people and God. God often revealed Himself to the people in ways to express His disapproval of their ways, often encouraged them to change, gave them directions to follow to get back right (I.e. burnt offerings), etc. God has always revealed Himself as the one and only god yet many of the townsfolk had pagan gods and many others knew better. YET many of us read the customs of the townsfolk at that time and take it on as rules in which we should live. Many speak against that by saying well the times have changed that's why we don't stone women anymore for committing adultery. Yet we still say God is the same today as He was yesterday. So He is the same yet His rule changed. No need to stone her in 2017? Adultery is ok now with Him because everyone does it? Wayment nah! But recall Jesus saving the one woman from being stoned? John 8:7 says "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." Hmmm…yet that was the custom of the townsfolk.

You see here's the thing, if you want to say low carb diets are bad and don't work, you can find all the "research" in the world (and lots of opinions) to back you up. And then you will confess that low carb is terrible. Low carb dieters eat a lot of meat primarily. So on that same token, there is plenty research one can find banning low carb diets…ummm ever heard of a vegetarian? You feel me? Anything you don't like, anything that doesn't work for you, anything you think is hard, anything that requires of you…you can find something that will support your claim that it doesn't work which makes you essentially correct when you decide it's too much to do or it hurts or it's not worth it. Real talk.

This is where the rubber meets the road. What are those things in your life, you feel are hard? Those things you think you failed at? The things you don't want to commit to? Those things you don't want to put the work in for? Those things you don't know yet refuse to learn? Those things you hate on? Think on them…check your attitude towards them. Are you correct in your thinking? Or is that your cop out?

Please don't waste precious time drilling holes into my message. (Well maybe you should…lol) You don't have to agree with me. But I do encourage the understanding for yourself. I will never confess to knowing everything. I'm still learning and growing on this journey called life.

I am different…intentionally.

Thanks for your attention. Remember you are your own competition.

Competitionof1