JustThinking | Peaceful balance

Danielle Strickland on conformity and other upsetting trends

I was one of 650 or so Salvationists gathered at a territorial youth event called INSANE recently in Melbourne, Australia. It was crazy (in all the right ways). The first night, the worship kicked off with the classic Delirious tune I want to be a history maker. Steve Chalke (founder of Stop The Traffik and UK social reformer) suggested in his opening talk that everyone is making history. There is nothing remarkable in simply making history. The real question to ask is what kind of history will we make? Not a bad distinction.

When reflecting on it later, I realized that whole generations have passed (in and outside the Bible) where nothing of note was recorded about them having lived. Nothing of note; not one exciting thing out of the ordinary. Celebrators of the status quo - maintainers of normalcy. Perhaps they had been convinced (like we have been tempted) to believe that it was too late - nothing could be done.

Recently, I watched the movie Valkyrie based on the true story of some German officers/politicians who tried to overthrow Hitler’s government. While contemplating the personal cost (wives/children/life), some of the revolutionaries come to the conclusion that the cost is worth the try. They made history - even in a failed attempt, they gave their lives to turning the trend of injustice at the hands of a country scared of upsetting the balance of submission to Hitler. I’m with them. Even their attempt was worth the cost. They were able to stand among a very few who challenged the status quo of a dangerous ethos of compliance.

In an attempt to upset the peaceful balance of conformity to injustice that plagued America, Martin Luther King, Jr. gives a famous speech about being a non-conformist - let this quote stimulate you to be a peacemaker and upset a mediocre trend near you:

“The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood.”

“Cowardice asks the question: is it safe? Expediency asks the question: is it politic? Vanity asks the question: is it popular? But conscience asks the question: is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular - but one must take it simply because it is right. The time is always right to do what is right.”

Writer: Capt. Danielle Strickland is currently the Social Justice Director of the Southern Australia Territory. She digs traveling, reading, running, speaking, basketball and movies. Her passion is grace, mercy and justice… and all the stuff in between. Her favourite question is ‘how hard can it be?’ and most of her days are spent answering it.

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