In 2011 the United States military spent 300 million dollars on camouflage uniforms. It costs a lot to blend in so no one will notice you. Adolescents tell their parents they want to be different; however, the irony is at the very same time they want the same jeans and the same shoes as their peers – so they can blend in. The cost of blending in comes in other forms than cash. Often one has to pretend to be someone they are not at the expense of knowing what is right and doing the wrong. Perhaps I am being overly harsh on adolescents because adults are not innocent of such activity. Often I have sat in committees that required a vote only to watch people hesitate to put up their hands until they see which way the majority is going. Then they quickly join in, acting as if their vote was their true decision, thus the value of secret ballots.
It isn’t just teens who want to be liked by those around them. Some people spend miserable lives wondering what others think of them. They have more than one camouflage outfit. They have one to wear to church and another to wear to work and yet another to wear to parties. Peter tried to play this game the night Jesus was crucified. He even added curses to his denial of Jesus. Surely that would be cover enough. Unfortunately for him Jesus heard him. The rooster crowed and they looked at each other. Peter was crushed to think that he had fallen so low.
If you really want to be camouflaged dress up in good works and unselfish care for others. You will blend right in with Jesus. People might not know the difference.
Written by Roger Bothwell on April 15, 2014
Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org