WHAT IS A CONTRARIAN?

 CAMBRIDGE DICTIONARY DEFINITION

"A contrarian is someone such as a writer or politician who likes to disagree with other people and express opinions that are unpopular." This term is often used to describe investors who do the opposite of what other investors are doing.

MY DEFINITION

Some of us were created to think differently than others in our professions, jobs, lifestyle and church. Why? I don't know! For many of us, it simply resulted from the way we were raised. Others, including myself, were created to "think outside the box."

My professional life began as an accountant that turned into an auditor. My lifestyle began as a pagan and turned into a Christian. My spiritual experience began as a church member and is still moving toward becoming a Son of the Most High God living in the Kingdom of God on earth. So, what are some of my attributes?

MY PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

During my childhood, I didn't get into much trouble. I was afraid of authority, particularly my Mom. Later, however, I began to learn to think some for myself, instead of always doing as I was told. I didn't have many friends. I have been self-employed most of my life, mainly because I despised being told to do a thing a certain way when I knew a better way. I challanged the tried and true methods and often created unique ways of accomplishing objectives. I also failed a lot!

This led me to a relatively isolated life style, particularly after being divorced from my children's mother. Suffering from low self-esteem, an undercurrent of anger and emotional instability, I often wore a mask in the presence of others.  I was, however, gifted with an entrprenuerial spirit. I undertook many business ventures, but only to get bored after a few years with most of them.

Then, in my mid-forties, I was pursued by the Holy Spirit of Christ. I experienced miracle after miracle in the midst of personal and fiancial collapse, until I could no longer deny the existence of a loving God. When this happened, I became every pasotr's worst nightmare! If what I was being told didn't line up with Scripture in the Bible, or if Scripture wasn't being applied correctly, I was quick to voice my opinion.

Being employed by or associated with a number of well-known churches and religious organizations, I began to see excesses in teaching that were, at the least, self-serving. In fact, after two decades of these experiences, I could no longer participate in organized religion. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit did not give up on me and led me through more than a decade of desert experiences to an understanding of God's purposes for my life.

I still continue my search for community relationships, like those we read about in the Book of Acts. Often being discouraged about not finding them, I have cried out to God, "Are there no others like me?" Like the angel responded to Elijah after he killed 800 priests of Baal and fled in fear of Jezebel, "There are 7000 others that have not bowed the knee to Baal!"

If you think you may be one of those, stay tuned!