LEFT OUT or SET APART

So your friends are at a party and you're told you cannot go. The obvious primal feeling would be to feel left out. Now there are variables, of course.

1. It depends on the type of party going on. What's the buzz?

2. Who else will be there?

3. How big and famed the party will be. - Will it be talked about for "years to come?"

4. How old you are.

As we grow older the urge to go to the "big" party becomes less and less. But let's face it, no one likes to be left out. How is it you think technology spreads among consumers? We used to call it keeping up the Jones'. Now we just call it jonezin' - ([jonezin] may or may not still be right in today's speak, alas, I no longer care).

The iTablet was debuted on Wednesday, but long before that the "buzz" was huge. Now the price tag will be whatever it be, but rest assured it will gobbled up to the delight of Credit Card companies (banks).

I recently saw a report that said in 1991 Cell Phones had only a 15% saturation in the U.S. Now, huh! 270-million Americans own a cell phone. A saturation of 90% or more! Computer saturation is at 85% now. Up from some 10% in 1994. WE GOTTA HAVE IT.

No one wants to be left out. If everyone's talking about it, you don't want to be the one who has nothing to say.

Marketers are human. They went to school. They know first hand the difference between the "cool" kids and the ones not in. And so do we. So we buy in to be "in." This of course has deleterious effects though. More on that shortly.

First, fame and media works in much the very same way. Would you want to the one who doesn't know the latest stars, fashion, movies, music? In some cases not knowing who Lady Gaga is, can get you put out of the group quick! Again, as we older, who cares. But for many this is not the case, even among co-workers in their 20's, 30's, 40's, and so on.

 So the pressure of keeping up with the fashion of today can and in some cases is, an essential part of getting on well at the battleground of school, work, and social groups. Being neglectful in these areas can even hold one back from advancing. But this is not without consequence. Referring first back to the parties.

 1. Who knows what can happen at these parties. (Many do not end well. Fights, destruction of friendships, rumors of who did what, and who did whom. These are things that if we didn't go we wouldn't have missed).

 2. So too if we do not always buy in we can be better off. (We do not have cable [by choice-Cox was gouging us]. And so we don't spend the days flipping through 500 channels with nothing on. Our child is not exposed to deleterious programming. NO ALCHOHOL ADS! And we are greater control of the images our child sees).

 3. Not knowing all the fashion can in it's self set us apart and makes one a more stable sturdy person in the school, work, and/or social setting. The key is being comfortable in one's own skin. And being able to laugh with those who laugh and cry with those who cry based on honest care and concern for those around.

Others may say "you're so square, but that's cool." It happens everyday. People like stable ports in the storm. In particular, as long as that port is there for them inviting and safe, not brutally dangerous and potentially deadly jagged rocks; or for lack of a better analogy, being an accusatory and judgmental person.

But listen carefully. Am I talking about parties, technology and what's in fashion, or being a faithful follower in Christ who is in the world, but now because of Him no longer of it?