Standing up for the Outcasts

[holysoldier5000]

Standing up for the Outcasts

Have you ever been an outcast? I have. And I can tell you it is rough being excluded from the cool kids or the popular crowd. It also is a very lonely place that is harmful on the self-esteem. Most of my life I was an outcast for various different reasons. Mainly it was because people wouldn’t accept me for who I was… and who I was, was me. I was not good enough for the preps, or “the guys,â€

[Chiyocities]

Yeah, I used to feel isolated among the in-crowd. It was hard to get through at first, but it's only natural to grow out of it after highschool, especially when people begin to enter the real world and realize that friendships start to become rare.

From my perspective, the problem with kids who feel they are "outcasts" is that they haven't made full use of their individuality and the things that make them unique. Their conditions of worth are focused more on people who society tells them, instead of following what God says is most important for the person. They feel isolated because of the need to be accepted, even though they realize socialization can be a dangerous thing (sacrificing your individuality with their standards\peer pressure).

Fitting in just to be liked is definately not a healthy way of gaining friendships. But I find that being unique isn't a bad thing as long as you use it to please God. That's why I am finding the concept of self-actualization a very useful tool in finding what makes "you" and use it to help people. It motiviates one to dig deep into their own potentials and serve others as well as God, without any emotional strings attached.

And yes. It's good to make meaningful friendships with the friendless. Friendships that are actually from the heart are more important than friendships that only serve to heighten one's ego.

[Heart of Sword]

Yep. I was. But only because I stood up for the outcasts. It was worth it though. Me and my outcast friends had lots of fun. XD

[Pride]

I was before I moved. I got harassed and all that junk for almost all of my life. Not fun at all. Even when I started to "fit in" after recieving my letter in baseball (not softball mind you...). I didn't want that shallow stuff ^^;

Moved to a new school and since there's over 1000 students, and its not as shallow minded, I get along just fine.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

I'm starting to wonder what others think of me in real life. My best friends are wacky and stuff and sometimes can be non serious. (But when its time to be series, they are WAY more serious that most other people)

I'm worried how if people perceive me to be some "immature video-game junkie brat" or something. Which I am A. Sometimes immature, B. A video-game junkie. But I'm worried if people perceive me as ONLY that.

Oh well =\

[Shao Feng-Li]

I was a bit of an outcast in school. All the "popular" kids in their little groups were kinda stupid, so it didn't bother me.

[Mave]

There will always be circumstances when we feel like outcasts. By being an aspiring christian manga artist alone pretty much depletes all the commonality I have with anyone I know offline.

I generally handle it by fostering pride in whatever made me an outcast in the sense of thanking God for making me who I am. Hey, there's nothing wrong with being weird for God. \m/

[Heart of Sword]

Mr. Smartypants, I think you're lots of fun and a really good friend. You're not immature at all. X3

[Doubleshadow]

I generally handle it by fostering pride in whatever made me an outcast in the sense of thanking God for making me who I am. Hey, there's nothing wrong with being weird for God.

I echo that sentiment. Being on my own at times with the presence of my Lord who loves me is much more comforting and peaceful then the temporary and conditional acceptance of other human beings. Not that loneliness does not exist at all for me, its just that I know I am never really alone (hence the screen name).

[holysoldier5000]

I'm starting to wonder what others think of me in real life. My best friends are wacky and stuff and sometimes can be non serious. (But when its time to be series, they are WAY more serious that most other people)

I'm worried how if people perceive me to be some "immature video-game junkie brat" or something. Which I am A. Sometimes immature, B. A video-game junkie. But I'm worried if people perceive me as ONLY that.

Oh well =\

MSP, your like one of the coolest guys I know. You have a great head on your shoulders and I know you are going to go far with you no stop attitude of searching for truth and meaning. If only there were more teenagers as passionate about getting into God's word and God's world like you are.
Dude, your awesome. A man to be admired and emulated.