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Safety in Numbers

by Brendan Shade

Being in high school, I understand what it's like to feel unnoticed. It seems like everyone else is either part of the "in crowd", unique enough to be in the "alternative crowd", or have found others like themselves and have created what I'd call a "special interest crowd". But no matter how hard I try, I can't seem to be in any of them. So what am I supposed to do? I can't go through high school completely alone. Let's face it... there's safety in numbers.

Part of the Crowd

I don't like feeling insecure. And I don't like talking about the fact that I feel insecure. When it comes right down to it, that's one of those things that I can't seem to control. I tell myself that I'm a good person. I tell myself that I have friends and that people like me. But no matter what I tell myself, the feeling of loneliness is still there.

I think that we're supposed to spend time with other people. I think we're created that way. That's probably why people form cliques and circles of friends; join clubs and organizations; and generally try their best to be a part of the crowd -- any crowd. But why would God make us that way?

Part of the Body

I finally found a "crowd" to hang out with, and that crowd is my youth group at church. We have a great time together and we learn about a lot of things at the same time. One of the things that our youth minister talks about is how we are all part of the mystical Body of Christ here on earth, and that as parts of the Body we all have our unique role to play. I like that idea because it makes me realize that I am part of a community, that I don't have to be just like everyone else, and that I can serve God in my own unique way.

I think God made us with the desire to be together, but in one sense it seems like a chicken and egg problem. Is the Church important because we desire to be together? Or do we desire to be together because the Church is important? Either way you look at it, one thing remains the same: the Church -- the Body of Christ -- is important. So let's do what we can to help the Body of Christ flourish and grow, because that's what Jesus wanted us to do. And also because there's safety in numbers!

Life Applications:

How would you describe the "crowd" you hang out with?
What would you change about the "crowd" you hang out with?
If you could be accepted by any "crowd", which one would you choose?

Copyright 2005 by Brandon Jubar
All rights reserved.