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Just put some love....Thoughts on Cliques

 

I've been thinking a lot lately about cliques. I'm sure everyone has experienced cliques. How can you get through school and not?

I find that high school cliques are a miniature example of what the big picture represents. Although we grow older and mature, and we do not generally pick on people as in school, we still exist in cliques. It is a natural progression when people want to fit in and tend to hang around with people where they feel they fit in. Common interests create cliques. Common personalities create cliques. Common goals create cliques. Someone who makes people feel loved through a very social personality creates cliques.

Of course people are going to hang around people they click with, right? Doesn't everyone? Isn't that what organizations, brotherhoods, fraternities, Women's Clubs, Men's Cub, Youth Groups, and the like are set up for? Being clique-ish is not all wrong. Fellowship is a good thing.

Of course, fellowship with God is the ultimate fellowship.

1 Corinthians 1:9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

We all know how immature children are by looking only at the outward appearance of someone and thereafter picking on them. The poorest student, with old clothes, and a smell, always gets picked on. I do believe many adults do their best not to judge people outwardly.

1 Samuel 16:7 Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

However, what about those people who do not feel they fit in anywhere? Most often it is due to their lack of social skills. Maybe they are too serious, or unable to make jokes, or quiet, or shy or opinionated. Maybe they have odd interests and beliefs. What about them? I do not see adults picking on them, but rather these people get lost and ignored. They are like those children who stand on a playground alone, no one playing with them.

I know most people do not intentionally ignore other people. Most people want to show love to all people. But because of the natural tendencies in society, they do not do what they want to do.

Romans 7:15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

It takes effort to look around and find those people that are standing alone, feeling like they do not fit in, feeling unloved. If I am caught up in my own little world where I feel I fit in and never look up from the circle of my world to see who might be standing near, I will never be able to do what I want to do. I will never be able to show the world happiness when so many people are reaching out.

I have forever loved this song by Lionel Richie called "Just put some love in your heart." It is only one minute twenty-six seconds long, but it speaks volumes for the things "I want to do, but do not do." I've got the words to this song written in the front of my Bible. I am especially touched by the words "every boy and girl." I am also touched by the words that indicate that if we are focusing on reaching out to others, all of our troubles will depart.

Written 3/18/2007

 

Copyright Cheryl Rutledge-Brennecke
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