Odd Happenings

August 28, 2023

Dickson Elementary School in Mobile, Alabama had a pageant every year when I was a student there in the Nineteen Fifties. All the classes presented their own show. It was my first-grade year, and my class was to do the Bunny Hop. We practiced the show for weeks. We stood in a long line holding the waist of the "rabbit" before us while hopping to the music.

Mrs. Newell, our teacher, took this thing very seriously. One day she sent home a mimeographed letter to all the mothers asking them to a special meeting about the show. At the meeting, the mothers were given the measurements and patterns for our bunny costumes and instructions on making our cotton tails. They were also given the fabric shop's name where cloth bolts were reserved for our class's costumes.

Sadly, the fabric store had run out of cloth by the time my mother got there. I remember my mother telling Mrs. Newell there was not enough of the reserved white material for my costume. Mrs. Newell had a solution. I was to have a brown and white polka dot bunny suit with a white cotton tail. I would be the only one in polka dots.

My ego was beginning to kick in, and a budding Ego Type Six does not like to be different from the group. I felt odd and "less than." This was a precursor to the feeling all Ego Type Sixes avoid: deviance and fear of rejection.

I recall that the day before the big performance, I learned that one other classmate had to wear a brown and white polka dot suit like me. I guess her mother was also late in getting the material. I was so relieved that I was not the only bunny of my kind.

Enneagram and consciousness studies teach us how our egos take shape and why certain things from our development are meaningful and memorable. After our egos forms, we rely on them to lead us until we realize they really don’t work all that well. Then, in the second half of life, we peel off the layers of ego until we come to that pure part of ourselves that has no ego. It is our soul.

My ego was petrified to stand out as odd. But my soul would be OK to be the only bunny in polka dots because it knows that I am loved and precious regardless of how the crowd may view me. My soul is happy even if it is unusual, odd or different from the group because my soul lives in Holy Strength and Holy Faith, not in fear of rejection.

Inquiry: When and how did you first feel the beginnings of your ego?

Dear God,

Strengthen me and let me be proud to frolic in polka dots! Amen.

Make peace with your ego and discover your true path today. We will share Dr. Howell's full daily reflection and prayer on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. To receive the full week, please complete the form below to begin your journey into who God has made you to be. The path to wholeness starts now!