I was browsing through books at Hastings one day when I came across a book called "The Words You Should Know" by David Olsen. It contained 1200 essential words every educated person should be able to use and define. So, since I wanted to broaden my vocabulary and, by glancing through the book, I did not know all of the words, I decided to buy it. So now every day I randomly pick one word to learn and use that day.
One day, my word was aberration. It means diverging from a moral standard or expected course. Aberration refers to a usually temporary departure from what is normal or expected. Something that deviates from a customary or natural course of action is an aberration.
I began to contemplate that word. It reminded me of a time when I had aberrated from God. I had taken a path that was not where I should have gone. I thought this word described exactly what had taken place. My moral standards went out the window and I went completely off course in my spiritual walk. But it was also temporary and I eventually went back to where I needed to be.
I liked this word in the sense that it meant it was something different than the normal. I wanted to find a word that described this in a positive way. I searched the dictionary and found Anomalous
adjective
1. deviating from or inconsistent with the common order, form, or rule; irregular; abnormal: Advanced forms of life may be anomalous in the universe.
2. not fitting into a common or familiar type, classification, or pattern; unusual: He held an anomalous position in the art world.
3. incongruous or inconsistent.
I thought this described me very well. In fact, I think it describes Christians very well.
John 15:18-19
"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you."
We are different. We are in the world, but not of the world (Romans 12:2). We are strangers; aliens. We belong to Jesus. We represent Jesus.
As Christ followers we are to set an example to other believers in how we talk, how we love, and in our faith and purity (1 Timothy 4:12). We are the light of the world(Matthew 5:13-15) and we should not hide, but show our light to those in darkness to help further the kingdom of God.
I am a Christ follower. I am an alien. I am an example. I am the light of the world. I am anomalous.
