I Can't Be James Dean and Jesus

The epitome of cool. James Dean. The rockstar who never played a song. An icon of what it means to be finding your way into manhood through stumbling into it. Rough around the edges and somehow so appealing.

He is all a guy could hope to be in modern culture. Care free. Bold. Rebel without a cause. And it didn't hurt that the ladies loved this guy. Why wouldn't I hold this guy up and think "I should aim for that,"? Other than the fact that he died in a car accident (irony for the clip I threw in) I would like to be James Dean.

But I am a Christian.

"He isn't going to preach at me is he?!"

Can I still be righteous and the rebel without a cause?

I think what gets things all messed up is my sissy impression of Jesus.



It's not that Jesus really is working against me though. Jesus was a rebel with a cause. I can't be the rebel without a cause, the purpose has been found. Can I still drag race? Or smoke during a TV interview? Can I wear cowboy hats and get away with it? The better question has to do with stumbling into manhood. I don't have to wander anymore. I don't have to die young.

Jesus was not a sissy. We screwed up when we decided he was. Compassion is not weakness. Grace takes more courage than anything I know.

I still screw this up everyday and will continue to. It's easier to aimlessly be cool. Ask the hipsters in Clifton. But I need to decide each day what I want. Do I want to be bold about myself, or something that matters?