I have to agree with Kendall Lyons, who works as a writer, illustrator and minister in the Dallas area, who admits he has always felt out-of-place in life.
Blogging at Baptist Standard, Kendall noted he never understood why God made him so “out of the box” compared to his peers.
“Everything from the way I acted, the way I thought and the way I interacted with my own peers felt unusual,” he wrote. “The mental balancing act, along with the social and emotional cues I had to keep up with, were enough to make me miserable at the end of the day.”
When I was in my teens, I preferred easy listening music and showtunes to the rock-and-roll my peers did. I was very interested in politics, but my peers were more into concerts and sports. I loved to write, and even embraced speaking in front of class, while my peers were loath to do as little as possible to get a passing grade.
Even today, I prefer watching old movies to anything on television. I love listening to Christian hymns, but do not like to sing in church. I would much rather be alone in the woods than in a shopping mall or any venue occupied by lots of people.
I know that makes me weird. Kendall felt the same way. As he grew older, he often wondered “What’s wrong with me?” Later, he was diagnosed as having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder. There was a reason he was different.
But, that wasn’t the full explanation. He eventually realized what made him different was actually his God-created strengths. He was given those differences on purpose.
“As the years passed, the Lord would use my gifts and experiences to be able to advocate for autistic individuals and those with ADHD, as well as others who are marginalized and underrepresented,” Kendall explained. “I speak out using my comics, articles and stories to convey a message that brings attention to an issue, as well as to share the gospel.”
Every one of us is unique. We are given natural talents at birth. We learn different skills as we grow up. Good or bad, we have different experiences which shape and mold us into the people we are. ALL of it equips us to do work God planned for us before the world was even created. (Ephesians 1:4)
Like Ruth, a common wife and mother in ancient Israel, she was created for a specific purpose and put into a specific role at a specific time to save the people of her country.
“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)
What makes us feel different from others is often a sign that we have an assignment from God to do work he created us to do on purpose. Like an old cuckoo clock, we are created to do something very specific at just the right moment.
Your purpose does not have to be grand, like saving an entire nation. It may only extend to a few people, but your impact can be felt generations down the line.
So, don’t wonder why you feel different or out of place. Rather, ask what you are supposed to do with the talents, skills and experiences you have. You will like the answer. Trust me, it will lead to a more fulfilling life.
After closing his business and enduring several painful years of uncertainty regarding what to do with his life, Greg founded Forward From 50 to help men and women over 50 to live more purposeful lives by pursuing things they are passionate about. A Wisconsin native, Greg currently lives in Arizona.