MOLD

The only one-size-fits-all mold for this pandemic is that we all have to follow the same rules of social distancing, isolation, and hygiene. Other than that we are all still completely different, unique, and special.  

Have you ever heard someone say, “When they made you, they broke the mold.”? That means you’re one of a kind. There’s none like you. You are an original.  There's just no one exactly the same. 

In some cases that saying is changed to, "I hope they broke the mold for that one!" referring to a person  way over the top in personality that makes people shake their heads and say, “I just don’t believe it. Who does that? Who says that?”
So are molds good or bad? 

Well, as people, we all come out of the human race mold.  Ergonomics is the science of understanding the human body in relation to how we move and function. There are minimum and maximum dimensions, which is why you fit comfortably in most chairs, go through doors without stooping, and even find the door handle at the right height.  Knowing the  “average” sizes of the people mold make most things in our world reliable. 

The mold you came out of determined your gender, skin color, hair and eye color,  determined height, bone structure, and genetic propensities.  Some things can be changed regardless of the mold which are  mental, emotional, psychological, educational, experiential, and spiritual.  Those are internal and the Bible has a verse that tells parents to pay attention to the mold of training up a child. “ Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he won’t depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

Any of us can gain or loose weight, change our hair color, and dress as we choose.  We cam fluff up our hair and wear platform shoes to appear taller. We can wear clothing with padding in the right places to look fuller or stronger. Make-up can be a game changer and none is better at this than the movie/ theater industry. Those are just external.  I love the verse, “…for the LORD doesn’t see as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart. I Samuel 16:7 
                                                                                                                                            Conforming in society and culture to a certain degree helps us feel like we belong. Right now it keeps us from being arrested or fined. While some love to stand out all the time, be the center of attention for good or for bad, most people aren't comfortable being on public display. People who are genetically deformed or disabled often express a desire to be invisible because they are stared at, or ignored by people who don’t know how to approach or engage them. If we see people through God’s heart it doesn't matter what they look like. We can value them by looking them right in the eye, smiling, and reaching out.

We like assortment. When we are shopping we want to choose something that expresses a specific interest or taste, especially a gift.  We like the freedom to make choices and comparisons. But the flip side of that is that we demand and expect perfect conformity to a standard when it’s our favorite food, or an advertised brand. Franchises and chain stores exist to give shoppers exactly what they expect from one location to another. We expect a Big Mac to taste the same in Canada as the USA (come out of the same mold!)

Some stores build from the ground up and create layouts and traffic patterns that can be adapted to different locations so any shopper has an identical shopping experience.  When I am sourcing for a client in HomeSense or Winners, even though they rarely have the same items from store to store, they have the same departments and categories somewhat in the same place   That’s their ‘mold’!

Manufacturers work hard to develop and produce products that will make it through quality control and match their advertised standard perfectly. This is part of what makes a brand popular and profitable. But because of competition that makes a free market work, they have to have some features that are noticeably different or better.
 
 So how do we manage in a world where we want to be recognized for our uniqueness, feel special, and note worthy.  Many are being exposed for the first time to the world through Live Streaming, Zoom, Skype, and other face time platforms.  We all know that after this Corona confinement none of us will be the same. We are still looking to be helped both inside and out to bring out the best of what is already in us. 
 
We aren't like products in a competition against our fellow human beings. We can compete to win games and spelling bees, but our identity should never be in whether we win at things like that or not. Our identity is in the One who made the mold used to bring us to earth for such a time as this.  When you were born, He broke the mold. We are like the Psalmist said, “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul ( mind, will and emotion) knows it very well.”  Psalm 139:14 

 You were born an original, don’t die a copy. 
 
 
 
 

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