The Lemming

When Sam and I were first married we bought a computer together. The only thing I knew how to do was to turn it on and play a game called Lemmings. To the grand sounds of a Beethoven symphony I would try to prevent thousands of little lemmings from following each other off of cliffs. Even today when I hear that music, I can flash back and see the mad scramble on the computer screen. I loved that game. And probably spent way too much time playing it. (Times haven’t really changed…there are days when I still spend too much time staring at a screen!)

Have you noticed that the society we live in is like a game of lemmings? People, following other people, just blindly running off of cliffs? We have that herd mentality. Monkey see, monkey do. After all, who wants to stand out in a crowd?

We were taught from a very young age that standing against the crowd wasn’t acceptable. Children are taunted and bullied for being a bit different. We had to learn at a very young age what we needed to wear, say, and look like if we wanted to blend in. The ones that ruled were the ones that we had to emulate and copy. We learned to laugh at the jokes every one else laughed at, even if they made us uncomfortable…we didn’t want to become the butt of the joke ourselves.

Life was hard…and we learned to run with the crowd. It was easier.

The funny thing is that the older we get, we still can’t let go of that mentality. It doesn’t matter what crowd we want to belong to…be it work, church, or our social group, we want to belong. We start to look like everyone else. We spew the same lines and bible verses. We don’t want to step out and speak the truth. Often the people that do speak the truth are cast out. Right? They are given polite smiles, after all, that is what a “christian” is supposed to do…but heaven help us if we are seen in public with the outcasts. It wouldn’t look good, we might be lumped in with them, and lose credibility. Plus what they say makes us feel uncomfortable, we might have to start changing.

Now look inside.

Deep inside.

Does “fitting in” feel right? Do you feel safe when you are part of a crowd, no matter what they are doing or saying? Is it easier to follow than to forge your own path? Are they making you into the best that you can be, or are they making you into a clone…a lemming? Are you following, blindly, against what is your heart’s calling, just to fit in and feel like you belong? Do they make you feel safe, or are you one faux pas away from being on your own?

What are we called to do in this world? And now I am talking as a follower of Christ! We are called to stand apart.

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:13-16

We are called to make a change, a difference. How can we stand apart, and know that we are doing what we are meant to do from the start? What assurances do we have in God’s word? What does He promise for us?

Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand. I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lends; And his descendants are blessed. But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in the time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, And save them, Because they trust in Him. (Psalms 37:5, 23-26, 39, 40 NKJV)

Be brave.
Stop running with the crowd!
Stand apart!
And see the change in you, and in your world.