Judges 3:15 (ESV): Then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, and the Lord raised up for them a deliverer, Ehud, the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, a left-handed man. The people of Israel sent tribute by him to Eglon the king of Moab.
I am left-handed. Only about 10 percent of the world’s population is left-handed. I’m different.
The world is set up for the majority right handers. In school I had to learn to deal with right-handed desks. Playing musical instruments assumes right-handedness. Even writing requires lefties to push pens instead of pulling. (I came up with my own creative way of doing that!)
I think as a result, lefties tend to be more extreme. Of the past 15 US Presidents, seven have been left-handed. Of course, lefties also have a higher rate of psychosis.
What does all this mean?
I feel that being different is okay. It certainly was for Ehud. You can read his whole story in the book of Judges, chapter 3, verses 12 through 30. Cool story. The hero is left-handed. Eglon, the king of Moab, was an enemy and oppressor of the nation of Israel. Ehud was able to kill Eglon because Ehud hid his sword in a place on his body that wouldn’t have normally been checked for weapons. Ehud was different, but he made a difference.
Let me say that again. I believe it. In order to made a difference, you must be different.
So many times in our world we want to just fit in. I believe that God wants me to be different. God wants me to turn the other check. He wants me to love unconditionally. He wants me to lead with grace in telling the truth, even when the world tells lies. He doesn’t want me to fit in. God wants me to be salt and light. Wow. That is being different in order to make a difference.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I want to embrace how You have created me. I want to be okay with being different. May I impact my part of the world. May I make a difference because I am different.
