I'm Taking the Hobbits to Isengard: An Observation on the Cost of Being Different

I find it interesting that the original title of the book was not The Cost of Discipleship but simply Discipleship. What does this mean? I found myself thinking about this very question in Honors yesterday. I came to the conclusion that perhaps it means we are supposed to instinctively know following after Christ comes with a price. It shouldn’t be something that we focus intensely on, doing anything different is pricey.

As I’m sure you’ve all seen I’ve been walking around campus wearing a cloak for the past week. I’m sure you’ve all either asked me, or wondered why I was wearing it. My reasoning, because I’m taking the Hobbits to Isengard…! Okay, in all honesty, it’s simply because I like it. I’ve always wanted to have one, and so I went and made one. Why shouldn’t I wear it? Since I’ve started wearing it, people have stared at me, tweeted about me, posted things on Facebook about me, and asked me all kinds of questions about it. Some of those things that weren’t directed at me, such as the tweets and Facebook statuses, haven’t been very kind. I’m paying a price a for being different.

When I first thought about making the cloak and wearing it, I didn’t actively think, “Oh, everyone’s going to stare, am I ready to be the center of attention?” No, I just instinctively knew it was going to happen, and I didn’t care. I think that it’s the same way when it comes to being a disciple, of anything. When I accepted Christ, I didn’t stop and think about what it would cost me (okay I was 4 at the time, but still…). Even now, as every day I choose to follow Christ, I don’t actively think about what it’s going to cost me that day, I just do it. And as someone who has problems letting God take control of my life, it costs me a lot! But I don’t think about the fact that it’s costing me the safety net I feel I need to have, I’ve just accepted the fact it HAS already cost me the safety net. I’ve just accepted the fact that being different, whether it’s by following Christ or by wearing a cloak everyone mistakes for a cape, has a high price.

Romans 12:2 has been on my mind this week, and while it may not exactly fit my situation, I think it can in a way. The verse says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” I think this definitely sums up what Discipleship is, breaking away from everything “mainstream” in the world and following after Christ and allowing Christ to change you in a way that is pleasing to Him.

Until next time,

~Meghan

P.S. I commented on Chloe’s post “Oh Happiness There’s Grace! Enough for us and the whole human race.”