COOL…
“That’s cool!” I hear that statement fairly often. Use it myself too. It’s a hip way to say we like or agree with something or someone. It’s kinda like saying something is “really, really good,” but saying “cool” is just, well, a cooler way to say it I guess. I’m about to step on some reader’s toes here but bear with me, I’ll stomp on everyone’s, myself included before I finish.
My wife and I were out to dinner the other night when two young couples sat next to us. They were dressed nice and carried themselves with dignity. I knew right away that these younger couples were “cool,” I mean really cool. All of them had tattoos, lots and lots of tattoos. I suppose if one tattoo is cool, then more tattoos is well, even cooler…
We all want to be cool don’t we? We long to be accepted, recognized, have significance in this world. We all long for the same things. We just have different ways of trying to attain those things, the things that we think make us cool. Society tells us what’s cool. While it was before my time, I know back in the fifties it was the black leather jacket for the guys and bobbie socks with patent leather shoes and a certain type of skirt for the girls that spoke of cool.
The sixties brought about peace signs, headbands, and longer hair. The seventies brought ripped up 501’s for some, leisure suits and platform shoes for others. It was toward the end of the seventies that piercing started to make it’s move into society to announce who was cool. The eighties brought about the wild hair styles and colors that expressed the new cool along with the piercings and tattoos.
In the struggle to make individual statements about being cool we’ve had to do more, out do the past to achieve the ultimate in cool. None of us are immune, we might have different fashion tastes, but we all have a need to be accepted and recognized, myself included.
Think about your life and the things done, time spent trying to “appear” a certain way. The flesh is weak, society proves it by how desperate we are to have our flesh look a certain way – even if it means trying to “look” just the opposite as the trend. Cutting our hair, dressing a certain way, and talking in the right way, is another way we think is “cool” or acceptable… but to who?
When we live our lives for other people and what they think about us to any degree, we fall right back into the same boat as the rest of humanity; insecure, fallen beings. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to not be somewhat susceptible to the influence of society, but what I know for sure is “cool” is strength.
The quest of society to look cool is the desire to appear strong on the outside, regardless of gender. True cool, in my opinion, comes from the inside, it is the manifestation of God in us that reveals His power on our outside. Real cool is on the inside, not the outside…
The scar on my left earlobe reminds me of that fact…
bill (cycleguy)
Wednesday, October 17, 2012 @ 1:56 am
My “cool” was never clothes driven and certainly not tat or piercing driven. I didn’t have much money for the clothes (in the 60s and all through) and had no desire to tat or pierce. Mine was more physical-I worked out a lot and cycled. I wanted that muscular, but trim body. I had both to some extent but soon found out that if empty inside, then the outside was packaging not worth keeping. Good thoughts Floyd.
Floyd
Wednesday, October 17, 2012 @ 2:48 pm
Well said, Bill. I hear you loud and clear. Thanks.
April
Wednesday, October 17, 2012 @ 6:44 am
I spent a good many years of my growing up years trying to be liked by others. It took 30 years of my life to figure out that I was cool just the way I was. It’s a long, hard road sometimes.
Floyd
Wednesday, October 17, 2012 @ 2:55 pm
You nailed it, April! That is exactly what it is. When we know we are good the way we are and believe it within, it shows to the world. For us as Christians that is the Holy Spirit that gives us confidence and shows like light to the lost world. Well said, April.
Betty
Wednesday, October 17, 2012 @ 11:29 am
Great truth brother…this is where being older helps…my style now is comfort and I can do approiate if needed. My prayer is the light of Jesus shines through my wrinkles that others will not even notice what I am wearing. Blessings.
Floyd
Wednesday, October 17, 2012 @ 2:57 pm
Isn’t that the truth. When we see God in someone what they were or how they look becomes almost invisible. How amazing is that? I can tell you your words shine with the light of our Father! Thank, Betty.
Dan Black
Wednesday, October 17, 2012 @ 4:37 pm
Great thoughts, I want to be cool both inside and out:)
Floyd
Thursday, October 18, 2012 @ 8:29 am
I hear you, Dan. By the way, I can tell you first hand – you are cool inside and out!
Dan Black
Thursday, October 18, 2012 @ 8:34 am
Thank you:)
Floyd
Thursday, October 18, 2012 @ 8:41 am
Your welcome. Keep the faith, my brother.
Dan Black
Thursday, October 18, 2012 @ 8:47 am
I will, you too. Have a blessed day!
Voni Harris
Wednesday, October 17, 2012 @ 5:23 pm
How sad for those young girls who can’t see the beauty inside themselves. How funny it is that our ideas about a particular person often change once we’ve opened up enough to get to know them. Thank God that He knows us inside and out.
Floyd
Thursday, October 18, 2012 @ 8:32 am
I’m with you, Voni. May He open the eyes of our children and next generation to His truth first. What that looks like on the inside can’t be contained by a soul cage. It brings true beauty that can’t be grasped. When we take the time to get to know people everything changes. Great thoughts, Voni. Thanks.
Effie-Alean Gross
Wednesday, October 17, 2012 @ 6:04 pm
Floyd,
I’m with you on this one. I hear comments from my family every time they look through old photograph albums. My hair was in a different style about every year. I had to be “cool.” Your remark about the inside being “cool” is absolutely correct. Humans look on the outside, but the Lord sees within…He sees our hearts. You have a very kind one. Thanks, again.
Floyd
Thursday, October 18, 2012 @ 8:35 am
Thanks for the kind words, Effie. I guess it’s a little easier to see this with wisdom of time. What I see as cool now is vastly different than I did as a kid. The cool of this world is insecurity. The real cool is the spirit of God within us.
Mike
Wednesday, October 17, 2012 @ 7:06 pm
I’ve got one of those scars myself. For years I thought I was cool, but when my children become teenagers, they let me know in no uncertain way that I was definitely not cool. I agree with you though that we all want to be accepted and thought cool in some fashion. Since I am getting older and not able to pull of the cool swag anymore, I’m glad that we can be cool from the inside. Being cool in God is the ultimate in good feelings.
Floyd
Thursday, October 18, 2012 @ 8:37 am
Well said, Mike. “Being cool in God is the ultimate.” It doesn’t get any “cooler” than that my friend… Sometimes those old scars, inside and out bring us wisdom… Thanks for sharing yours.
Hazel Moon
Wednesday, October 17, 2012 @ 11:00 pm
Although I try to dress decent – – nice pants and top during the week and usually a dress on Sunday, I still am not that cool — I think I am just normal. People don’t want to be normal thses days. I like what you said about having to out do the last generation!!! Ain’t that the truth. I am considering getting a permanent wave for my hair – – last one I got made me look so frizzy I swore never again – – but lately I find I have the right to change my mind. My ears are pierced, but no tats. See I told you, I am not cool!
Floyd
Thursday, October 18, 2012 @ 8:39 am
Hazel – I can’t think of anyone I know that is cooler than you! You’re very words and heart prove it! I strive to be more like you. You are who you are to the world for God. I respect that characteristic deeply. Thanks for being you!
Jason Stasyszen
Thursday, October 18, 2012 @ 6:01 pm
Oh man, I’ve missed you, Floyd. 🙂 This is good. Interesting how when we’re kids our chosen group defines cool and we feel left out if we don’t have whatever it is that distinguishes them. As adults we admire the ones who go their own way and are able to be themselves. I’ve said it many times but being yourself is not as easy as it looks and being your restored self living in the light of Jesus is uncomfortable. It’s worth it though and that’s what I want! Thanks Floyd.
Floyd
Thursday, October 18, 2012 @ 9:14 pm
You’re a good friend, Jason. Only a true friend keeps coming back for more! I love the wisdom and heart. Thanks for you’re input, it is uplifting.