Over the years we’ve worked overseas, we’ve had the opportunity to travel a good bit. On the surface, it may seem to be a glamorous life. But I can assure you, our hours spent in the economy section of the plane have never been trendy, glamorous, or full of “new and improved” items. You can never be sure of what you’ll find in the seat pocket in front of you in the economy section. I have found used toothpicks, used air sick bags, and half-eaten bread rolls in the seat pocket in front of me.
The Misfit has arrived
One of my most memorable trips to the USA was when we flew back in 1993 for the birth of our son, Stephen. I had very few things to wear by the time we flew about a month before my due date (yes, we cut it close). Our base in the USA is in West Palm Beach, Florida. It is a fancy part of the country. There, you will find the biggest names in fashion: Prada, Chanel, Lagerfeld, and more (I had to do a Google search to get those names).
I felt more than conspicuous as we disembarked and made our way to baggage claim. I was horrified as I walked through the air-conditioned concourse, it was filled with the rich and famous. My blue dress with a giraffe printed on the front of it and my very pregnant belly announced to all of South Florida that The Misfit had arrived.
The new and improved meet the least trendy
Our travels have given me the unique opportunity to catch up with what’s fashionable, trendy, and “new and improved.” I’ve also been made aware during those travels of how I am the least trendy of those around me.
That being said, there are some very cool trends that I would love to follow. I think that ordering food online and having it delivered is the best thing ever. I don’t like grocery shopping anywhere in the world. In Africa, it can take a full day (maybe more) to shop for a family. Open markets are the standard, and it takes time to negotiate prices for all your purchases. Stateside, if I grocery shop, I find myself confused. There is too much variety; my eyes find it difficult to absorb it all.
The new and improved, how do you choose toothpaste?
The simplicity of Africa has spared me from the confusion of facing the “new and improved.” I only want a tube of toothpaste when entering the store. What I don’t want to face is the feeling that I have to make a major life decision between brands and their sub-brands.
Have you ever thought about the many different kinds of toothpaste that are available? There’s fluoride toothpaste, whitening toothpaste, gum care toothpaste, total care toothpaste, all-natural toothpaste, charcoal toothpaste, and more.
Social jet lag: not so trendy
There’s a medical term, “social jet lag,” that refers to the condition of falling victim to erratic sleep patterns causing exhaustion and a long list of other symptoms. This definition comes from the jet lag one experiences when traveling across time zones (a condition that I am well-versed in). However, I have begun to see “social jet lag” in another light. I define it as “the condition one succumbs to when trying to keep up with all of society’s trends.” It’s uncertain if my definition will reach the heights of the online masses. But when I try to keep up with all of the trends in society today, with the new and improved, I feel socially jet-lagged.
I remember these trends
I remember when all the rage was to keep your roots colored. Every 4–6 weeks, women would flock to their local beautician to get their roots done so they wouldn’t have the dreaded line of roots showing. Fast-forward to a few years ago, and the “ombre” look became all the rage. “Ombre” is having the longer parts of the hair colored a different color from the roots. Those of us who have been struggling to cover those roots for years became seriously confused.
I remember when having a perm was all the rage. Hopefully, perms won’t come back any time soon (although I’ve heard rumors that they’re coming back). I was so relieved when I no longer had to perm my hair. Give me a hair straightener any day.
I remember when all the rage was to wear pantyhose. They had (and probably still have) many styles: sheer, control top, ultra-control top, sheer toe, and reinforced toe. On top of the styles were the rainbow of colors that were available. Hose were to be put on by rolling them up, and beginning at the toe, you rolled them up over your legs up to your waist. Either the hose would pull up seemingly to your chin or hang uncomfortably near your knees.
New and improved pantyhose
Suddenly, after years of wearing hose that often came in cool egg-shaped containers, someone decided it was time to throw them away. Women everywhere struggled to adjust (and shave their legs more regularly). And some, like me, rejoiced, thinking that we would never have to wear hose again.
Until someone invented leggings, jeggings, and skinny jeans. These are “new and improved” versions of pantyhose, in my opinion.
Now women everywhere who had been liberated from the form-altering pantyhose flood stores looking for the newest leggings, jeggings, and skinny jeans. I’m sure after some time, these too will fall out of favor when another new trend becomes fashionable.
I can’t keep up with the trends
Social jet lag—I feel it. It’s exhausting to try to keep up with the trends that change from day to day. I find it impossible to be on point with what “everyone” is doing and wearing. I give up!
Besides not being able to keep up with what is trendy, I am a missionary. My career choice isn’t a popular one. It’s far from trendy, for sure. I’ve been told that the days of foreign mission work are over. I’ve also been told I’m a bad mother, grandmother, and daughter for living so far away.
Don’t think for a second that I don’t feel the pain of being away from loved ones. I’m not sure I even fully understand this pull I have with my husband to work in Africa. I cry just like everyone else when saying goodbye. I miss my children, grandchildren, and extended family. This life is not trendy at all.
The drive for approval
Paul, when preaching at Athens in Acts 17, studied the culture of the people (vs. 22, 23) and appealed to them by using what he learned. Once he had their attention, he gave them the full download of truth from heaven. That included confronting parts of their culture—what was trendy for them at the time—that went against Kingdom values. I wonder how well we would receive Paul’s message today in our approval-driven society.
Thankfully, God doesn’t think much about fitting in. God’s approval of us isn’t based on whether we fit in with today’s trends or not. His approval is based on what Jesus did for us. We don’t have to do anything but believe. Life is too short to live for the trend of the moment because trends, like people, are fickle. Instead of looking to fit in, seize life for the adventure God means for you to live and live fully in the moments you have.
“We shall have all eternity in which to celebrate our victories, but we have only one swift hour before the sunset in which to win them.”
Robert moffat
