This is the title of a popular 2002 country song by Lonestar. And every time I hear it I think of about 20 of my favorite people. My son Jared fits this category. His clothes, music, and habits have never been “usual.” But what he adds to our family interactions is priceless. My grandson, Caleb, who at 21 is exploring his true interests, will not likely be “usual.” While his basketball team members are driving down the court, Caleb may notice a pretty bird sitting in the window. One of my favorite counselors has been known to ask a client to take communion with her rather than talk. My friend the theologian challenges lots of “usual” Christian thinking. I don’t want to be like most authors – I want to explore things they’ve never done.
In a short letter to some grade school kids, Kurt Vonnegut encouraged them to try things – even if they were not the normal 
things expected in a school setting. “Practice any art, music, singing, dancing, acting, drawing, painting, sculpting, poetry, fiction, essays, reportage, no matter how well or badly, not to get money and fame, but to experience becoming, to find out what’s inside you, to make your soul grow.”
Many of you have described to me the characteristics that make you “unusually unusual.” Your interests in food, art, music, hobbies, and work confirm that you will never be “normal.” But then again, greatness is never normal. Enjoy the process of making your soul grow!
Here’s the refrain to this song:
“She’s unusually unusual
Absolutely unpredictable
She’s so different and that’s what’s wonderful
She’s unusually unusual
And that’s beautiful to me”
Yes! How often do we come away from a social event and talk about the people there that were normal? We talk about the people that stood out from the crowd because we appreciate story. We don’t go to the movies to see someone sit at a desk in an oxford shirt in a cubical. We go to see something interesting. Something remarkable.
I like to live my life like a film. Hopefully one worth watching. One that inspires and liberates people to embrace their uniqueness and let their freak flag fly. I’m grateful you and mom always encouraged me to fly mine high.