The Island of Misfit Toys- Erin Thomas

The dancer with street grit to survive, but the softest heart for kids...
The tailor-artist who sees potential in young men the rest of us overlook...
The pastor who sees beauty in the broken Church...
The writer filled with wisdom, draped in jewel tone scarves..
The peacemaker spanning generations of older sages at home, sharing her love with us...
The community centre leader who sees truth past her superiors...
The youth worker with superheroes on her shirt...
The kids' worker who's soul's delight is blowing bubbles...
The tree hugger with a tonne of kale...
plus a few more ragtag punch'n'judy types...
... and the abolitionist who walks into bad situations without a second thought, but fears saying "hello" in church, has the oddest sense of empathy, tires of people easily, has this rather funny way of losing or tearing her clothes at the most inopportune times, and questions, questions, questions...
Meet the Misfit Toys living on the Island of Misfit Toys.

Most of us feel we don't fit... even agree that we were not meant to fit. Yet we see life on the frontlines each day, witness the oppression and suffering of others, suffer the crucifixion of ourselves, and wonder how our heads, hands and hearts could ever make a difference when we're so... mis-matched.
Society claims that individuality is revered.

That being so, why... us? If everyone's individuality is so prized, then technically, the Master of Arts in Urban Studies students of CCGPS should be as equally accepted and understood as everyone else. Our Island should not exist. Yet we do. Here we are. Just a few steps left of where normal left off.

We come from places that demand conformity, we come from places of fear, we come from places that have done things just so for years, and we are a threat to new ideas... or even old ones. We come from places that are apathetic, we come from places that are seeking change but cannot recognize change for when it comes, and we come from places that would seek to shut us up.

So we all wind up together. Some with wings where there ought not to be (so sayeth the world); some with one arm or half a leg; some with fluorescent fur; some with blind eyes... or no visible eyes at all, the buttons having fallen off.

We are the ones who are questioned, wondered at, held in suspicion, examined, and even persecuted. There is certainly acceptance and love in some places, but only some... and only so far.
Don't be afraid.

We have not come to save the world. That's already been done. We bow to Him, the Ultimate Misfit. Our allegiance is to Him.

We are your dreamers and poets and fools. We are your clowns and court jesters and mad prophets. We are your silver linings in dreary days of war, famine and disease. Do not discount us. We are creatively and wonderfully made servants that ache to love the world about us, as we love our Lord. No greater than everyone else, we do not seek to be like everyone else... we seek to be the winged, one-legged blind creature God took such great delight in making. In a world that needs to see truthful beauty and beautiful Truth, He has made His dwelling among us.

Welcome to the Island of Misfit Toys.

Written by Erin Thomas, Abolitionist and student at Eastern University