freak (freek) -noun: any abnormal phenomenon or product or unusual object; anomaly; aberration. Unusual; odd; irregular. (Source: http://www.dictionary.com).
Kim and I went to a homeschoolers convention Friday to purchase curriculum for Elizabeth’s upcoming school year. The highlight of the day was a booth selling tee shirts. My favorite one read, “Yes, I’m homeschooled. Yes, I’m socialized. Yes, I had class today.” Love it! If you have ever homeschooled your child, you know that the question, “What about socialization?” is the mantra that homeschool critics love to chant, and it is the question that gets on the last nerve of every homeschooling parent. The lady working the booth, herself a homschooling mother of five, said it best: “I’m the one who is in need of socialization!”
This little interaction got me to thinking about how homeschoolers are going against the grain of current society. In fact, some people consider homeschooling families freaks. Granted, there were some ultra-extreme, right-wing of the right-wingers at this convention that seemed a little off the map. But the true definition of a freak is simply someone who is different from what is normal. If that is the case, then the term “freak” can often be a compliment rather than a derogatory moniker. In fact, by this definition, every follower of Jesus can indeed be considered a freak in our society today.
Sort of puts the term “Jesus freak” in a whole new light, doesn’t it?
This led me to consider what other aspects of my life might stamp me with the FREAK! label (besides being a follower of Jesus and a pastor). Here are a few things that sprung to mind:
- I use a Mac. Sure, it is a growing trend, especially among the creative and the clergy, but it still goes against the grain and provokes the “RCA dog in the phonograph” stare from most people when you tell them that you are a Mac user.
- We avoid artificial colors and preservatives in our diet and eat organic food when it is available. No, I’m not a tree hugger, and no, I am not some kind of new age guru. My older daughter has a sensitivity to many artificial ingredients in foods. They affect her mood and her ability to focus. My wife learned how to avoid preservatives and artificial colors, etc. through the Feingold program, and it has changed our lives! And think about it… Why would we think that eating chemicals, dyes, and artificially processed foods, most which include petroleum based elements, could possibly be good for our bodies?
- We live debt-free (except for our house). We were absolutely buried in junk-debt from credit cards and a long history of bad financial decisions. We heard about Dave Ramsey at a Ministry summit several years ago, and got on board with his plan for getting rid of debt forever. We paid off our last credit card in early 2006, and have enjoyed the benefits of financial freedom ever since! I may be weird, but hey, I still have money at the end of the month!
The truth is, it is great to be a freak! It is actually quite liberating to not be bound by society’s idea of normal. I mean, my goodness, why settle for mediocrity? I use one of the most stable and technologically advanced computers on the market and don’t have to worry about thousands of computer viruses. We are eating healthier foods and helping our daughter stay mentally focused without the burden of expensive and potentially harmful medications. Because we don’t have debts to pay, we can invest larger portions of our money so that we will be financially secure later in life and be able to pay for our daughters’ educations without assuming additional debt.
Oh, and back to the homeschooling issue… Elizabeth (age 9) recently took her SAT, scoring at the high school level in most categories, and post high school in some others!
Normal is boring. Normal is broke. Normal is mediocre. I think I want to stick with being a freak. In the words of TobyMac, we need to “break out our freak appeal.”
Are you a freak? Are there areas of your life where you should “dare to be different”? Join the ranks of freaks. Come on in, the water’s fine!
Posted by Chad Payne 
