In keeping with the beauty of His works - 1

He made us individually and beautifully with intent and purpose, so we claim and indeed it is. But we do not do this individuality and beauty justice that is worthy of it, by the value that we give it.

The method: Standardisation

We devalue this colour and glory that we are painted in and prevent it from actually letting it shine unrestricted, opting to streamline it into the ways of society-at-large. We subject our generation to a system of checks which imposes on it a rigorous standard that holds it down instead of one that accommodates and nurtures the versatility we (the reader (s) inclusive) are created in.

a) Standardisation of Intelligence: As a result of such a mindset - through our educational systems and outlook towards intelligence, we subject our generation the rating of intelligence of only a certain kind. As much as God made intelligence that befits scientists, he also made creativity that befits artists. And if all that He made is good, all the other categories that we could list are equally important in the light of His creation. No other standard that should be set but the standard in the creation itself. This does not mandate any other rigid standard of any sort, leave alone one that brands anyone better, worse, bad, good, stupid, clever and such other.

The very way to define that standard is to let the creation (you and me, in this case) be what it must, as it must and shine His glory, PERIOD. To do that we must give ourselves the space to do so. We must grant our selves the space to discover, be and explore who we are. This is the way we were created to be, simply ourselves. We were not created less than anyone or anything.

By putting this versatility in a box and cutting it to size and further more devaluing the kind that does not fit in the box only kills the versatility – thereby killing its intended glory. If a child is to spend his growing years with his versatility shut up in a system which expects him to be any less or/and colourful that he is made to be, it does not allow him to let himself shine unrestricted. That does not do the creation (the child) justice nor does it shine the glory the child was made to be in. They must be given this space, as it is vital for their growth into the people they were created to be. This must be enforced as a part of their lifestyle. If we draw the lines before they even discover themselves, they will not be given that space to discover themselves.

b) Standardisation through respectability: We strive to make our generation to be one that fits in with the crowd and in by all means, mainstream – in thought, mannerism, culture, lifestyle and such – focussing on its respectability within society. As a culture, we deem this respectability to be more important, not giving ourselves the space and permission to be the selves that reflect the beauty that we were made in. The focus is largely on how we are seen, our reputation in society and whether not they accept us in to their fold.

While we go along with the society that favours a well set job/career(and only certain kinds will do), settling down with a partner, goes with certain kind of talk and mannerism that is of approval-at-large by society and choosing to go mainstream and other such things, they curb the versatility that we we were made in. The factors that go into the manner that we succumb to this standard of respectability are varied. Some of them we choose to abide by because we are taught to do so. Beyond that, there is no reason except that we must be respectable for whatever reason that we are taught so. The other reason that we do it is by compulsion – though not wanting to. Compelled by existential reasons at large.

With such a focus on respectability, we do not grant ourselves the space to be the people we must, in keeping with the beauty that He made us in. By valuing respectability in society above being that which we are made to be, we do not do the purpose that we were made to be any good. We, in effect, serve society a more profitable purpose, which is not the worship that is deserved of our God.

Note:- Concerning any such standardisation, granting the space to be ourselves must involve complete sincerity. We cannot stand apart and demand what we feel like, rather we must be true to who we are. God made us, each, beautifully and individually. The last person you should lie to is yourself, neither will you have an excuse, if you do. We are not created with extrinsic but intrinsic beauty. As much as we do what we are made to, it is very much the natural inseparable us (us ourselves) that we will be, when we do that. And this we must do with no excuse, except for the fact that, that is who we are PERIOD....2