What if people foisted elite social status upon you? What if YouTube offered you fame and fortune amongst Mr. Beast, Ryan Trahan, Dude Perfect, and Yuya? What if society said, “You have to really really really care about Prom! And you are obligated to go to Prom (even if you’d rather go camping, or play ping-pong)! And you have to covet the crown!” What if the coolies and cuties came clamoring to make you king by force?

Can you resist? Can you reject the crown?

Can you place restrictions on money and status?

Can you choose instead to be curious and childlike, knowing full-well that it will vex and rankle the coolies and cuties?

Can you look at people with 4,000 sqft homes and say, “Foxes have holes, and birds have nests, but I choose בְּמִדְבָּר!”?

Can you choose to spend the bulk of your time on mountains, and austere beaches, and ‘Samaria’ (a.k.a. slumsville), and sitting around camp fires?

Can you embrace and enjoy the value system of Elijah?

Can you embrace and enjoy the value system of Elisha?

Can you embrace and enjoy the value system of John the baptizer?

When really really powerful, popular, people come to see you, can you say – “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” Can you squander any and all opportunities to be popular?

Can you embrace and enjoy the value system of Jesus of Nazareth?

Can you squander popularity? #After this many people turned back and no longer walked with him [John6:66].

Can you tell the popular kids at your private “Christian” school, the plastics, the trendies, the name branders, the coolies and cuties – that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for a person like them to enter the Kingdom of Heaven?

Can you chastise the popularity contest contenders for coveting the places of honor at feasts and the best seats at elite events and parties, and greetings in the trendy districts, and being esteemed and celebrated by beau monde?