Standing Ground

Picking one’s fights is can be confusing.  Should I stand for the Euro or campaign for the Pound?  Should I be a legalist?  Does either political party really make a difference?  Is it worth giving up my life for the cause?  What about the principles and values I hold dear?  What about compassion, mercy, and unconditional acceptance?  Would I die for one of these causes?   
 
The very conversation is one to run from!  It is easier to go with the crowd.  The focus of life, so the argument goes, is to enjoy life, revel in friendships and relationships, and go along.  The idea of being different, unusual, or odd is not attractive.  I wonder if our goal should be to be the odd man out. 
 
If I look around me today I can find more examples of individuals giving up, going along, and being a part of the main than I can find those who are distinctly different.  Yet as I scan and reflect I begin tot think of those who made a real difference.  Historical figures, major and minor, people who inspired, known and unknown, and role models, for many and just to me, all seem to be “different” from the main.  They stood and fought for their convictions.  In some cases they risk their life for the principles they held most precious.  It isn’t as if they were perfect, in fact for many their character flaws were well known! 
 
The risk lies in taking a position that might be wrong.  Who knows the difference?  It might seem that this is a big problem.  Even in the example of the healing of the blind man the wonder of who was behind it brought competing heroes to a debate.  “You might be a disciple of that man, but we're disciples of Moses.  We know for sure that God spoke to Moses, but we have no idea where this man even comes from.”  (John 9.28, 29)
 
It is in the quest for truth, in standing and fighting for what we believe, that we discover life itself.