for when consistency feels like a curse

Dependable.  Steady.  Expected.  Consistent.

Technically, these are all positives, these are all words that show appreciation for another and their hard, never let you down, way to always be there personality.  But if you are the person being described, if you are the person who feels like they only hear these words when being described, they can begin to change in your head to sound more like Boring. Dull. Typical. Commonplace.

Idioms reminding that Nice guys finish last and Squeaky wheels get the grease may only exemplify the dime a dozen feelings that come up.  Nice guys aren't flashy, they don't show off to grab attention, therefore they world glances them over for the stereotypical star quarterback.  Squeaky wheels are loud and annoying, but you notice them.  Have you ever pushed a shopping cart through a store with one squeaky wheel.  It's literally the worst.  Ok, maybe not the worst, but its certainly not the best.  Have you ever pushed a non squeaky cart through a store?  Of course you have, but I bet not once did you think, man I'm so thankful for these non squeaky wheels, way to do your job guys!  Squeaky wheels are the ones who get the grease, but there's three other wheels working hard as hell that might want some every once in awhile too, wheels that don't cry out and wave you over because they know they just need to do their job anyway.

Consistency can feel like a curse if you are the one who is always consistent.

A big reason is because it will not always work.  There will be days when you mess up, when your always dependable dependability will fail and when this happens time feels like it stops, freezes on that moment, and all attention zooms in to take in the view of the one who 'never messes up', messing up.  When you're a goof off you garner great attention when you accomplish something successful.  When you're consistent you garner great attention when you screw up, when the always well working cog gets stuck.  You become the squeaky wheel after all and the grease you get doesn't feel like you thought it would.  I understand this.  My oldest understands this.  I bet a few of you do too.

The world notices what is different and casts their attention upon it.  (The collective) we are good at pointing inconsistencies, the letter in the line that looks different than others, the talent that stands out above the crowd.  We love to search for the diamond in the rough, add the pop of color to an otherwise neutral backdrop, take the pictures of the brightly colored houses in San Francisco that stand out against the rest.  We praise the girl who dressed up like a hot dog to her ballet class when everyone else wore their princess dresses.  And you know what, I think that's awesome!  When someone has a unique gift that draws attention to them more than another then it should be noticed and appreciated.

But even as much as the world loves flashy, consistency is not a curse, and if it begins to feel that way there are some Truths that need to be remembered.

If you are the one who likes being neutral, if you enjoy wearing your princess dress even if it's in a sea of other princesses, don't get down.  There's nothing wrong with you, you are not lacking.  Don't let yourself become the older brother in the parable of the prodigal son, being bitter about the party you're not getting when you've been there all along.  Let's instead look at the beauty consistency shows and the obedience it lives out.

Many times in scripture we are encouraged to live lives of consistency, of dependability.  Even when, in the Old Testament, God was exiling His people to Babylon, He called them to live lives of consistency to, as Jeremiah 29 says, "build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”  That dependable life was going to make His Kingdom prosper.  Consistency is Kingdom Work.

Again, Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians said "...to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody."  You oh consistent one are bearing witness to others.  You are making people stop and think, what makes them different?  Nietsche has a quote that can pertain to this topic that inspired a book that has been a steady part of Christian life for generations, "The essential think 'in heaven and earth' is… that there should be a long obedience in the same direction; there thereby results, and has always resulted in the long run, something which has made life worth living."  Consistency is a long obedience in that same direction, not worrying about the accolades, not worrying about the labels, but the keeping going with Faith that through it lives worth living are being made.

We all want to feel invaluable, to have someone point us out and say that's my guy, I couldn't do this without them.  And no matter your personality, no matter the words used to describe you, you are invaluable.  You have been singled out and held up and been told You are made in My image and that is the greatest value you can have.

You never know what is being built through your consistency.  You are not the architect, you are the laborer, but through your life, through the work you have been given to do, His design is seen.  His design is made known to others.  His design comes to fruition.  He uses you, consistency and all, for Good.  I pray when thoughts arise and tempt you to look at yourself in another way that you will remember the Truth that every part of you is created specifically and holds value not because of who you are but because of Whose you are.  In light of that knowledge, I pray you will also share with others that yes, you value them, but above all they are valued by their all loving, all knowing Creator.  Pray for me.