I have been mulling over this graph for a wee while now... with this thought running through my head:
Not everyone has an iPhone!iPhones are very popular... there is no getting over that, I have TWO for goodness sake! According to Flickr, they are the camera phone of now... even though the camera is not the best... rocking 2 megapixels and no flash on the 1st gen & 3g... and a 3 megapixel on the 3GS.
When I'm watchin' my TVI don't know the context of the lyric but I think the fact I don't smoke highlights the absurdity of such a statement... but it is, regardless whether Mick was singing it literally or ironically, a singular statement.
And a man comes on to tell me
How white my shirts can be
But, he can't be a man 'cause he doesn't smoke
The same cigarettes as me
When I'm watchin' my TVSilly... why? because not everyone has an iPhone!
And a man comes on to tell me
How white my shirts can be
But, he can't be a man 'cause he doesn't use
The same iPhone as me
So why is it that we have a singular approach to other elements of our life?
- Politics not as liberal as mine... you are not a man!
- Politics not as conservative as mine... you are not a man!
- You don't listen to (insert band name)... you are not a man!
- You don't believe in the doctrinal creed I believe... you are not a Christian!
- You don't express your faith the way I do... you are not a Christian!
- You don't worship the way I do... you are not a Christian!
- You go to places I don't... you are not a Christian!
- You hang out with people I don't... you are not a Christian!
You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness.Ephesians 4: 4-7 (The Message)
But that doesn't mean you should all look and speak and act the same.
How we express our faith_ how we look... how we speak... how we act... should not be a singular thing. We shouldn't expect everyone to look, speak and act as we do.
Two books that have meant a lot to me of late is a generous orthodoxy by Brian McLarenand sacred pathways by Garry Thomas. Both books attack, in their own way, this idea of singularity.
They demonstrate the value in our diversity... in our plurality... in our community. They highlight the fact that we see things differently... interpret things differently... place emphasis on different things.