You heard me say that I’m just an average Joe with an opinion. I even backed up my opinion with facts. I’m not a journalist, but I have training in journalism. I never want to come across as being too big for my britches. I don’t want to look down on others either.

I bring this up because Gavin Newson made a comment saying that he was just an average Joe, he was just like us to a black audience. Now that’s something he shouldn’t had said at that inappropriate time. He was looking down on them. This all came about over the voter’s ID.

Governor of New York, Kathy Hochul, made a statement in which she said that the blacks are too stupid to use a computer or even have one. Senator Chuck Shumer thinks that people are too stupid to find their birth certificate to get an ID. Even Joe Scarborough from MSN said that his wife couldn’t find her birth certificate. How insulting to people intelligence?

Back to Gavin Newsom, he’s trying to come across as someone who is relatable to the average American people as any politicians would do, but he failed at that because people can see right through his lies. Many politicians who has charisma can usually do well in relating to the average Joe of the American people.

Bill Clinton has charisma to do just that; even though he was slime dog. Whereas Hillary Clinton didn’t had that charisma to relate to the American people; thus the reason she lost in 2016.

Barak Obama had charisma and was able to be relatable to the American people when it came to beating John McCain.

Even though, Donald Trump was a wealthy businessman, he was able to reached millions of the American people and be relatable. He happened to say what the American people was thinking; and that was what helped him get elected in the first place. A big thing during the 2016 election was “Joe the Plumber,” an “Average Joe.”

I said all this to make my point for being the average Joe. There will be somewhat of a series from the book, “An Enemy called Average.” We don’t have to settle in being average. Don’t settle for an average life-God wants to launch you past the middle to the top.

Some things require a certain amount of innate talent. Some people are born athletes, scientists, or explorers. It’s in their DNA. Some people will never make it to the NFL, NBA, or MLB. No matter how hard they work, they lack an innate ability.

This doesn’t mean that we are to roll over and play dead either. We are to used what God gave you to be the best you can be in whatever field you’re in.

We are challenged everyday to be and to live in ways that seem to contradict the ways of the world. We are not to devalue people by cutting them down to make ourselves look so much better. When we do that, we’re only hurting ourselves.

In 1 Peter 1:8, “For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge.” I could never had minister or be a good friend to Joey if came across as self-righteous. It would only turned him to look the other way. I don’t know about you but I prefer people who are relatable than someone who thinks they are so better.

One of the thing I was told as I was going through counseling is, “God doesn’t make junk.” We are all special and unique in one way or another.

My mother’s favorite song was, “Don’t Laugh at Me.” Don’t laugh at or make fun of someone because of who they are. Don’t harass someone because you don’t approve of how they dress or who they want to be. Just accept one another! We are all God’s children made in his image. It doesn’t matter of your disabilities or if you’re gay, straight or transvestite.

Within every person has been placed a desire to be different, distinctive, to be an original. Deep down inside, everyone wants to be above average. No one really want to just get by. Throughout this year, I will give you some helpful tidbits to live your potential, whatever it may be.

Everyone wants to be loved and accepted just as they are. They want someone who would understands them.

I have a young friend, named Joey, who shown me that. To some he may be different because of they way he dress or his lifestyle. I’m glad that I got to know him personally. I grew to love and accept him as he is. He’s very special to me.

As I told him and will tell you the readers, you got to be yourself. Don’t let the world dictate on who you should be. You must know who you are and be yourself no matter what others may think.

I can understand why my mother loved that song, “Don’t Laugh at Me.” She had a loving heart. She wasn’t judgmental to anyone. I believe that she would love and accept Joey as much as I do.

Remember, people looks at the outward appearance while God looks at the heart. God knows what is in our heart. He knew us before we were even born and still in our mother’s womb. He knew who we would become.

Even though, I may just be an average Joe, I don’t want to come across as someone too proud; that I end up looking down on someone who may seems odd and different. Some of these politicians seems to forget that when campaigning. Not just politicians though, even some pastors will also look down on some people as well and comes across as being self-righteous.

My step-dad dislike those who has this big ego and thinks they are better than someone else. I had a co-worker who ego was so big that he felt that he was the best. I couldn’t stand working with him some days because of his big ego. I tolerated him but that was about it.

So BE YOURSELF, don’t let someone cut you down because they don’t approve of you for whatever reason. We are called to stand out, not blend in.

Throughout this year, I will give you some nuggets from the book, “An Enemy called Average,” to hopefully help you stand out in the crowd . There might be weeks that I will take a break from this series though. May you grow from this as I know I did. I wouldn’t have missed a thing in getting to know my young friend, Joey. I love and accept him as he is. If anyone was to hurt him, they would be sorry.

BE YOURSELF!!! God doesn’t make junk and he loves you no matter who you are. If God loves you, I too can love you as well.