My friend Josh recently wrote on his blog outlining how he is officially uncool. My friend Mark recently wrote on his blog how he is a nerd. Mark seems to think Josh’s point was based on Doug Fields theory that a youth pastor can only run on the fumes of coolness until 25. Josh listed some ways that prove he is very uncool and Mark did the same. Not to be outdone by either one of them, I thought I would add to the already growing list of features that leave me an “uncool” person just like them.
- I don’t fit into any one social class. By societies standard I’m socially retarded because I have a lot of different interests. I have friends that are into everything and anything. Therefore, I hang around tons of different people and social “clicks” never stopping to settle on just one. Life’s better with a dozen friends than just two though, right?
- I am a huge step behind in regards to the “trends”. I don’t have an iMac (and there already over two years old) or the newest tech gadget or toy. I stopped watching MTV after they stopped playing videos, I wear jeans that I got in high school, and I can’t stand American Idol.
- Like Mark, I have stopped trying to look cool. I bought a pair of sneakers from Wal-Mart the other day. When it’s warm out, I wear a white t-shirt, jeans, and flip flops. I also own a suit! Seriously, a suit? My high school self would have slugged me!
- Like Josh, I go to bed way to early. At ten o’clock I want my bed and a good book.
- I don’t really play video games (at least not like the youth do). I don’t have a wii, xbox 360, or playstation 3. Don’t get me wrong I probably would jump on the video game bus, but who has the money for that? (Not youth pastors)
Somehow though, I am still relating to teenagers. I’m finding the older I get, the more effective ministry is becoming. My dad is almost 60 and his ministry with the youth is massive. Just because you loose the “cool” factor, doesn’t mean you stop relating to students.
The other odd thing I was thinking about in this whole “uncool” thing is how I think Josh and Mark are two very “cool” people…
odd.
-Jordan
Let’s hear it for clothes we got in high school that we still wear!
I am actually wearing a shirt right now that I bought at church camp in third grade.
Whew. It’s good to know that after my coolness factor wears out next year (at 25), I can still be a youth minister even though I don’t have a goatee, cool clothes, or an iPod. I was started to get worried that someone would figure out I wasn’t hip (is that even a word anymore) and kick me to the curb.
If I were giving a commencement address at Grace College, Warsaw High School, or practically anywhere else directed to adolescents (25 is now when that ends), I’d say: ‘Being cool is overrated.’ Then I’d moonwalk to the edge of the stage, do a back flip off, and say ‘Peace out.’
But as much as I despise the idolatry of self-image, I always suck in my gut when leaving a restaurant. (McDonald’s not included.)
Keep them True.