From time to time I feel like a misfit. It seems counter intuitive because I can easily adapt to my surroundings, and get along with different types of people.
Ethnic background never mattered to me (I thank my love-everyone-hippy-parents for that). Your socioeconomic status doesn’t mean a whole lot to me either, I’ve been up and down financially and have learned that money can be slippery. I’ve determined that this “misfit” feeling has something to do with my faith… In John 15:18, the Bible says “If you find the godless world is hating you, remember it got its start hating me. If you lived on the world’s terms, the world would love you as one of its own. But since I picked you to live on God’s terms and no longer on the world’s terms, the world is going to hate you.”
In some ways, this feeling is a reminder to live according to God’s view of me and His will and not rely on the fleeting approval of others.
Recently I had an opportunity to talk to a friend and music industry veteran named Vinyl Jones. He’s the front man of a great band called Knapsackheroes. Vinyl is a talented producer-manager-song writer-rapper, and a few years ago he wrote a song called Misfit Me.
Transparent: What inspired the song Misfit Me?
Vinyl Jones: Ha. It’s funny really. I was watching one of those cheesy but great claymation Christmas TV specials with my kids and heard the song “we’re a couple of misfits” and inspiration hit. See, I was one of those kids (and adults for that matter) who never really fit in. A square peg in a round whole type deal. I was a white kid obsessed with hip-hop in a time before that was common, but then I also loved Bowie, Michael Jackson and everything New Wave … then there was the matter of the way I dressed. Ha, don’t get me started. Anyway, I definitely wasn’t the jock, the theater guy etc etc … I was a blend. That’s what this song it about … finding true identity. That’s is OK to be a misfit. For me that true identity was found through my relationship with God and thus Him defining who I was and am.
Original Version (Old School Version!)
Transparent: Why do you think others identify with this song?
Vinyl Jones: Who really fits in? I mean even the guy who looks all calm and cool is clamoring for acceptance, thus it’s a universal theme.
Transparent: The song has changed over the years, and I know your fans love to hear it live. Talk to me about the this song growing up.
Vinyl Jones: Ha. You’re not kidding. We’ve had sooo many versions of MISFIT ME. I actually wrote it as a solo song prior to K! even being born yrs ago with DJ Form (former DJ for GRITS). It’s been fun to have it grow up. We are currently working on the FINAL LP version … it’s kinda a dance club song with hints of old school hip-hop, similar to what the cool kids or the duo rootbeer are doing nowadays. We’re giving it a small break in our set to make the unveiling of the final project oh so dramatic. 
Soon my friends.
Newer Version (Live- Sorry about the audio).
Transparent: What do you personally do, when you feel like you aren’t “fitting in” with the people/world around you?
Vinyl Jones: PRAY PRAY PRAY. As simple as it sounds that’s it. I spend time with the Lord, and in His word. I’ve found that “rock-stars” are the most insecure people on the planet so I’m in good company. (Smiles) God will provide a way and an answer no matter where you are in life. That truth is what we in KNAPSACKHEROES! count on, and trust me we don’t have it all figured out by any means.
Transparent: Do you have anything else to declare?
Vinyl Jones: You mean like do I want to check my bags in at the desk? OK THAT WAS LAME. I mean, just keep on the path. Stay true to who you are and if you really want a challenge take your preconceived notions of who your supposed to be to the Lord and he’ll show you the truth …
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Connect with Knapsackheroes:
- Myspace – http://www.myspace.com/knapsackheroes
Website – http://www.knapsackheroes.com
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/pages/KNAPSACKHEROES/19231821811 - Get KNAPSACKHEROES! on iTunes http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=301620876&s=143441
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I thought that was great advice from a great guy. So, my question to you is, do YOU ever feel like a Misfit? What do you do when that happens?
Love,
Jason
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May 28th, 2009 at 12:42 am
Nice piece, Jason. I sometimes we all think we’re misfits, mostly because we think we are the only ones struggling with an issue.
I used to think that way in church. I wish someone had told me years ago that I wasn’t the only sinner trying to pass for saint in church on Sunday. No, I do not think that people were being hypocrites; they were just as scared as I was to be ratted out as sinners.
Anyway, good piece. God bless. JRI
May 28th, 2009 at 9:13 am
Thank you, Jason! That piece is FULL of good, GODLY advice! Not unlike you, I have to credit my Dad for my response when I feel like I don’t fit in… When I was a freshman in college I can remember calling home to tell them how lonely I was– that I just “didn’t fit in.” I’ll never forget his response: “So you think you’re the only one?! Start a club!” So, a few weeks later we had the very first meeting of a club for folks that shared in my major… Seems his wise advice is still at work today– hence “Faces of Hope.” That’s why we have the policy that no parent ever needs to apologize or be anxious about their child being anything other than the beautiful creature that God shaped him/her to be….
I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to the life in eternity- rumor is He’s building a mansion– JUST FOR ME– JUST MY SIZE!
Love you, Jason! (Love to Shell and your family, too.)
May 30th, 2009 at 6:24 am
Wow – great post, as usual! Hope we can make it out to hear them sometime!
June 19th, 2009 at 3:35 am
I really enjoyed this post. I know what it is like to feel like a misfit, and I’ve always suspected there are a lot more people who are covering the fact that they feel that way too! The advice that Vinyl Jones gave to “PRAY, PRAY, PRAY” is so true… It is easy to overlook it, but I always think of Max Lucado’s book, You Are Special, when Eli tells Punchinello to spend time with him. (Eli represents God, and Punchinello represents us “misfits.”) When we spend time with our Father, He tells us – and convinces us over time – that we are pretty special too. What could be better than that!!??