And yet scripture, time and time again, shows me that this is possible. Just look at the disciples. They couldn't have been more different from each other-constantly fighting and disagreeing. Or, take John the Baptist and Jesus' cousins, no less. I mean come on, John was a weird dude-eating bugs...dressing in camel skins...calling religious people names...telling all people that they needed to repent. He made it a point to totally separate himself out from the world around him. Then along comes Jesus who does things differently. In fact, he does things so differently that he is accused of being a drunk and a glutton. He is partying with sinners and tax collectors, and turning water into wine. These two could not have been more different. They were so different in fact, that at one point John sends some of his guys to Jesus to find out if he made a mistake when earlier he pronounced Jesus as Messiah. But Jesus' reaction is something we can all learn from. He doesn't rebuke John, or make fun of him, or get angry. Instead he says, "look at the fruit of what I am doing, then there won't be any doubt." 
     So what can we learn from this? A couple of things stand out to me. First, God has created us all in different ways and has set us on different paths of life. There are not going to be any "cookie-cutter" Christians. Second, God can be just as pleased with the way you live for Him as He is with the way I live for Him, or the way the "Super Christians" we know live for Him. We are not in a competition, but in unique relationships with the Infinite God of the universe. Sometimes, we need to remember this when we get frustrated that others are just not getting this whole "Christianity" thing right. Other times we need to remember this when we compare ourselves to those around us, and think, "God just can't be happy with me because I don't do it like ________." God did not create you or me individually so that we can be transformed into the likeness of each other, but He did so in order that we can be transformed into the image of His Son-His Glorious, Eternal, Unfathomable, Creative, Incredible Son. All the variety we see around us only scratches the surface of the infinite character of our Lord. While it may make me a bit crazy at times, I guess, when I am honest, I wouldn't want it any other way.

--Alan Dyson