Don’t Fit the Mold

God did not create you to fit, follow, or fold into society, but rather to reflect His beloved Son, Jesus. In Greek mythology, there’s a villain named Procrustes, who was said to reside on the mountain pass of the sacred road to Athens. Legend has it that he would invite travelers to stay at his inn, where he offered them a one-size-fits-all bed. However, since nobody seemed to be just the right size for his accommodations, he would work hard to make them fit. If they were too tall, he’d chop off their legs, and if they were too short, he’d stretch out their limbs. The problem was that in trying to conform visitors to his specifications, he wounded them in the process. And though this is an exaggerated example, the moral of the story still rings true today. In our image-driven society, organizations, churches, and political parties teach the importance of fitting the mold, and they often shame others into conforming to their self-set cultural norms. However (and frequently without realizing it), these standards end up damaging human souls and driving people — made in the image of God — to believe something about themselves that just isn’t true. In fact, what society says about self-worth is often the exact opposite of what our Heavenly Father says!

My friend, don’t fall victim to Procrustes. Refuse to sleep in his bed, because in the end, trying to fit the mold will leave you disappointed, discouraged, and dismayed. Let go of the pressure to conform to the norms of culture so you can embrace the peculiar, kind, and loving person your Savior created you to be. No amount of cutting, stretching, or fitting can supersede your DNA or change the perfect wiring of your design. You are created in the image of the God of the Universe, and He fashioned and formed you long before you were in your mother’s womb. Because He makes no mistakes, you can cherish your distinctiveness and love all the quirky, different, and diverse things that make you YOU.