Open Air Week with WOLBI is always a bit of a culture shock. Each year we pack up the entire student body and some of our staff and head to the streets of Toronto and Hamilton for a week to talk to people about faith and life. Often we have great opportunities to share our faith and once again our students did an incredible job initiating conversations and boldly sharing God's truth. I am always amazed as I leave the Christian "Bubble" where I work and live for this extended period of time. One of the things that struck me this year as I wandered the streets watching out for students was a very obvious contradiction in our North American culture.
As I was walking down past crowds of people waiting for buses, I saw two guys talking. Something caught my eye and as I focused on the distraction, I discovered a pair of gloves decorated in spiderweb with a very prominent spider on the top of each hand. "That's interesting," I thought to myself, "Never seen anything like that..." In the seconds it took to discover all this I realized that the guys were looking at me with a weirded-out-are-you-some-kind-of-creeper type of glare. Somewhat offended by their expression of offense I probably blushed slightly as I quickened my pace to get away.
A constant media barrage communicates messages of, "Be your own person," and, "Stand up and stand out." There is nothing wrong with being a unique individual but c'mon, if you are trying to stand out, don't be surprised if you stand out! I personally like wearing a hat that is unique or different but I understand that when I do, people will notice, look (sometimes stare), and even comment. If you are seeking to 'stand out' then please be prepared for the attention you receive.
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