As Promised...

Okay, one more disclaimer then I'll turn you loose on the first few paragraphs of Rebel Reborn.  As I post tidbits from my work, I want everyone to understand that in no way am I attempting to glorify the years I spent away from the Lord.  In fact, I'm aiming to do the opposite.  My prayer is that through my transparency the Lord will be lifted up and His amazing transforming power made known.  That being said, here's the first installment...

Chapter 1: Rebel Checklist

”In the midnight hour she cried ‘more, more, more’

With a rebel yell ‘more, more, more”

Billy Idol, Rebel Yell

Let Me Introduce Myself

I’ve heard countless speeches, sermons and the like that open with, “Webster defines (fill in appropriate topic here) as…”  Sure, it’s an effective way to get your listeners on the same page and as far as openers go, it’s not the worst in the world, but I have no doubt that any Public Speaking 101 prof would tell you that it’s a tad overused and to pursue something more attention-grabbing.

Having said that, dictionary.com defines rebel as a person who resists any authority, control or tradition. 

What can I say?  I’m a rebel at heart.  Telling me not to do something is a sure-fire way to get it done.  (I can see the reverse psychology wheels turning as I type.)

Also, for the younger ones in my audience, I decided to define the word rebel in urban dictionary terms.  In summary, being a rebel means being an individual, not following the crowd and not conforming to what others prefer.

I haven’t always considered myself a rebel.  In fact, until my early twenties, I was the exact opposite.  I was a 100%, pure bread conformist.  I followed the rules and I probably judged those who didn’t.  I was a girl scout when it came to my church attendance and involvement.  I was also your classic overachiever in high school.  I made straight A’s and was salutatorian of my graduating class. Then after high school, I attended Christian University and spent 8 months in Thailand teaching English and working as a missionary.

But somewhere around 22 or 23, everything changed and for the bulk of my twenties, I was off-the-charts on any rebel checklist.  I’ve never actually seen a “rebel checklist” before but I imagine them to look something like this:

o   Tattoos

o   Piercings other than one in each ear

o   Non-traditionally colored hair and fingernails

o   Posing for pictures with inappropriate hand gestures

o   Dating “bad” boys (they give you street cred)

o   Frequent enjoyment of the “party” lifestyle, particularly those things that have been deemed by the authorities as illegal

o   A distaste for (or downright hatred of) authority

o   Doing something based solely on the fact that your mother doesn’t want you to

o   A refusal to do something based solely on the fact that your mother does want you to

Let’s see…

Tattoos? Check. I have four of them and wouldn’t mind having more, much to my parent’s and grandparent’s chagrin.

Piercings other than one in each ear? Check.  Well, not anymore actually, but I had my nose pierced in college.  In true rebel form, I took it out when I decided that nose rings had become too popular and mine didn’t make me stand out anymore.

Non-traditionally colored hair and fingernails? Check. That is assuming that purple is not a traditional hair color.

Posing for pictures with inappropriate hand gestures? No check on this one – but pictures of me with a drink in my hand (of which there were many) were the equivalent of me “sticking it to the man.”

Dating bad boys? Check.  And for good measure, I dated losers, potheads and atheists too.

Frequent enjoyment of the party lifestyle and illegal activities? Check times infinity.

A distaste for authority? Check. Most notably here was my attempt to run away from the ultimate authority, God.

Doing something my mother doesn’t want me to? Check.  See bullet points one and two. (and four, five, six and seven.)

Not doing something my mother does want me to? Check.  You get the picture.

Hi, my name is Amy and I’m a rebel.

The one commonality from my teens to my twenties was that whatever I did, I didn’t dare go about it half-heartedly.  I’m a passionate, all-or-nothing personality and that was true whether I was studying for finals, preparing to teach a Bible Study or hitting up the local club.