Who's Normal?

One of my favourite books by John Ortberg is entitled "Everybody's Normal Till You Get To Know Them". In it he highlights the absurdity that there is such a thing as a normal human being on the planet. Having just returned from Melbourne and Auckland, my travelling companion has given up any thoughts that I may be normal, although I would have strong doubts about him as well!!!!!!.

My trip to Melbourne was full of memories and nostalgia. We were there to check out the area as we intend to plant a Newfrontiers Church there next year. I had not been in the city for almost 40 years having been born there and spent my young childhood there. We had an hour between appointments and so I decided to return to the family home and area for a look around.

It was amazing to see the little house where we lived unchanged. I couldn't believe it! I was really excited and decided to knock on the front door of my old house! At this point my travelling companion couldn't believe what I was doing. My perception was that my actions constituted normal behaviour - he thought it was out of order and that I was a bit of a lunatic. It is a shame that this blog does not contain a feedback section as I am sure it would confirm that I am very normal (the blog editor chokes at this point!) and he is obviously too self conscious and shy for his own good. 

We then moved on to Auckland and our Newfrontiers Church there which is progressing well. At this point I will not comment on any specific individuals except to say that the obsession that Auckland residents have to proclaim that their Sky Tower is bigger than our Sydney Centrepoint tower is clearly not normal. As I pointed out there are too many other attractions in Sydney to even mention or think about the Centrepoint Tower. I don't think that was the most sensitive thing to say but having established I am not normal I suppose it was OK.

Let me conclude with a great quote from Ortberg. He writes "When we enter relationships with the illusion that people are normal, we resist the truth that they are not. We enter an endless attempt to fix them, control them, or pretend that they are what they're not. One of the great marks of maturity is to accept the fact that everybody comes 'as is' [in other words flawed]"

As you move into another week can I simply tell you "I know I am not normal, but guess what, neither are you!!!

Regards
Peter