I took this photo at Cornwall Furnace in Cedar Bluff, Alabama.  This is a very unique place; the furnace was built by the Confederate States of America and in 1862 became the first to supply iron for the construction of Confederate cannons during the Civil War.  It took a thousand men seven months to construct the furnace using limestone from the nearby Coosa River. Though General Sherman twice ordered the furnace destroyed in 1864, it still stands in its original location. 

        As I walked around this extraordinary area filled with history and beauty I spot this tree with its limbs hanging out over the peaceful waters of the Coosa River.  I loved the way it stood in contrast to the other trees in the area.  It stood tall and unafraid to be different.  It did not matter that its leaves and blossoms were different than all the other trees.  Proudly it swayed to the rhythm of the waves lapping at its feet.  This tree was unashamed to be unique and strong enough to be the first to stand next to the ancient furnace.   Strength and beauty danced elegantly this afternoon as it dared to be himself.

        Dare to be yourself.  Initially this may seem to be an odd statement, but is it?  Are we not ourselves?  Who are we if we are not ourselves?  Every day I see people spending tremendous amounts of time and effort trying to be like someone else.  We do not want to stick out in a crowd, so we dress like everyone else, act like everyone else and pretend to be like those around us.  When the truth is we are supremely unique; a one of a kind masterpiece; never before has there ever been another person exactly like you.  So why do we spend so much time trying to be like someone else?

        This world in which we live is doing all it can night and day to make us like everyone else.  The enemy is trying to squeeze us into its mold, attempting to convince us that we are not good enough.  The truth is conformity is one of the greatest dishonesties we can do to ourselves.   When we reject our specialness, water down our God-given individuality and uniqueness, we begin to lose our freedom.  Today, dare to be yourself, do not fear to follow your dreams.  Do not live in the ruts of life but have the courage to try something for the first time and just be you.

Something to think about:

• Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else’s opinions, their lives an impersonation, their passions a quotation.

• If you want to be original, just try being yourself, because our Master has never made two people exactly alike.

• It is our uniqueness that gives freshness and vitality to a relationship.

• The comparison game is the sure way to a poor self-image.

• Why is it so many want to be what they’re not while what they are is what others want to be?

• It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.

• Originality does not consist in saying what no one has ever said before, but in saying exactly what you think yourself.

• Why can’t somebody give us a list of things that everybody thinks and nobody says, and another list of things that everybody says and nobody thinks?

Resolve to be thyself.
Rickey Moore