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HOW TO MAKE THE LAW OF DIFFERENCE WORK FOR YOU (PART 7)

from: 18 . 08 . 19
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THE FATE OF THOSE WHO DARE TO BE DIFFERENT

 First, they do not notice you, then they laugh at you, then fight you.
Then you win.  – Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948), a leader for India’s independence from Britain, founder of non-violence philosophy

The first reaction you may not like is this: first, the crowd, the gray mass would say, “Peacock has come, where did they come from? Who do they think they are? Proud! Upstart! – just look!” they will say anything, maybe, they will even throw rotten tomatoes at you. They will throw all kinds of trash at you, just because you’re not like everybody else, because you dare to differ.

“With my manner of dress, I drew the ridicule of others, but that was the secret of my success. I did not look like everyone else”, describes CoCo Chanel the secret of her success. At the same time, it is also evident the price she had to pay for success: universal ridicule. To be not like everybody else is not always comfortable. If you are the tallest or the shortest in your environment, red haired, wear glasses or fat- it’s your difference. You stand out, you cannot be missed or confused with someone else. Therefore, such people often become the object of ridicule.

People often tell me, “Hush! Behave more quietly! Shut up at least a little – a little! Do not be so bold to declare things!”. People advise me, suggest to me, to be meek and be low profiled. People ask me If I am not afraid to so boldly voice my opinion. I want to tell you: “I care less about fears, because I have God in heaven. If God is for me, then who can be against me? I have no opposition, because if God is on my side, it doesn’t matter who is not on my side, doesn’t matter who is against me. “



Listen, if God is on your side then it is better that he alone be on your side, even if all people are against you. Because, if God is on your side then you are already the majority! “one person with God on their side, constitutes the majority!” This is not my invention but that of Alexander Suvorov (1730 – 1800), the great Russian commander, military theorist, a national hero of Russia. What should I be afraid of? Jesus Christ Himself said, “why be afraid of those who can kill only your body? The lives of those who can kill your body, is not in their hands, it is in Him to whom I belong. They do not decide anything in the long run, He decides, so then what should I then fear? I need to be afraid of only one thing – HIM.”

If a person is afraid to make a bold statement to express his opinion, it is only because he does not know himself. The one who has the courage to do it, who knows who they are in God’s eyes, for what reason they were born, where they are going, where God is taking them, has the courage and bravery. Because it is based on the knowledge and revelation of them self, a person can be brave and behave freely as they believe, even if this contradicts the opinion of the majority. A person who does not know their destination, who they are and where they are from, will be afraid of unconventional, will be frightened to conduct them self in a way that is not conformed to the accepted norms. Because their self-esteem does not correlate with that of a confident person, confident of their purpose and mission, knowing they are not here accidentally. 

Confidence and courage begins with what you know firmly: “There is no one like me!” But when I affirm myself like this, some react, saying, “This Sunday is not humble, thinks too much of himself, came here from Africa and began to swing right!” this is the way some people treat me. Until now, many do not accept me. Why? Because I’m doing something that is unusual for their mindset. In the real sense however, so should everyone behave them self, who wants to become somebody in this life, for those who the words, greatness, calling, mission are not empty phrases.

If you are ahead, you will be the first to come under attack. All eyes are fixed on you who is in front. Everyone watches you. Why? Because if you find yourself in front, all the others follow you. Your back is looming in front of them as a target. Many do not even see anything but your back. Therefore, if you are different, your back is completely open for any comments, jokes, ridicule, and more often, the vicious and aggressive are the ones directly behind you. All can watch what you’re doing.

But I want to remind you, dear readers, the words of Gaston De Lewis (1764 – 1830), French politician and aphorist: “Envy aggressively attacks the highest of virtues and spares only mediocrity.” MEDIOCRITY DOES NOT STIR UP CONTROVERSIAL FEELINGS. Strong emotions can be stirred up only by that which is out of the ordinary. It’s no secret: that it is exactly what annoyed and provoked fierce debate among contemporaries, that is valued and revered by following generations as an outstanding achievement.

Niccolo Paganini (1782 – 1840), Italian composer, violinist and guitarist – virtuoso, owns two great quotes:

“The talented man is not loved and the genius is hated “

“The skilled are envied, the talented are hindered, the brilliant – are fought against”

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 – 1882), American poet, philosopher, pastor and social activist; One of the most popular thinkers of the United States, added, “you can recognize a true genius in that, at his appearance or the mention of his name, all the fools conspire against him”.

What is your strong trait, your gift, your talent, that can make you into a household name forever? This is exactly what irritates people around you, if they do not take the law of difference into consideration. But do not worry about this. Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1821 – 1881), one of the most significant and well-known world thinkers, said: “If you aim at a goal, and you start stopping on the road to throw stones at every barking dog, then you will never reach your goal”.  Even if you hear insulting words directed at you, it’s not worth it to be upset or despondent. Keep your heart free from any hatred and anger and learn to forgive, that’s what will make you stronger. “Do you want to become stronger – learn to forgive. You want to become even much stronger – learn not to be offended”, said Tadao Yamaguchi, lecturer, writer, entrepreneur. To differentiate yourself and not be like others, you need to be strong.

Mother Teresa wrote the following in a kind of testament.

People are unreasonable, illogical and self -centered, forgive them anyway.

If you show kindness, and people accuse you of secrecy, of personal motives, show kindness anyway.

If you succeed, you may see a lot of imaginary friends and true enemies, succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you, be honest and frank anyway.

What you have built over the years, can be destroyed overnight, continue to build anyway.

If you have found a serenity and happiness, then you may be envied, be happy anyway.

The good you have done today, people will forget tomorrow, do good anyway.

Give the world the best of what you have and it will never be enough, continue to give them your best anyway.

In the final analysis, you will discover that this was between God and you, and never between you and them anyway.

Remember that that which happens between you and people, in the actual sense happens at a different level than we can see and the level of these relationships has more to do with you and your direct relationship with God.

From this point of view, there is a completely different meaning between what you are doing and what is being done against you.

No matter how long the ridicule, shame and spitting may last, it cannot last forever. In the Words of Mahatma Gandhi, who formulated the philosophy of non-violence and influenced the movement of supporters of peaceful change: “first they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you and then you win.” The Night cannot last forever. No matter how dark it may be, sooner or later there comes the dawn. First, they ignore you, then laugh and scoff, and the fight you. But at the end of it…you win! This is the victory of a personality with unique features over the oppression of the gray crowd, trying to force you to march “like everybody else”.

 

Excerpts from the Book “THE LAW OF DIFFERENCE”. #DSABOOKS

This book can be found on dsabooksplanet.com and Amazon.com

FOR   THE   LOVE   OF   GOD,   CHURCH   AND   NATION

By Pastor Sunday Adelaja.



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