the other day, i was having dinner with a friend of mine and she mentioned that i seemed like a person who knew what i liked or disliked and wouldn't let the opinions of others change my own. the funny thing is, before college, i was the exact opposite. i wasn't in touch with my own thoughts on things so my time was spent keeping my opinionated friends happy by agreeing with them.
so what happened?
last year, i studied the book of genesis with intervarsity and one of the things i learned was that God meant for me to turn out the way i did. he put certain passions and thoughts in me that aren't in anyone else. he designed me to love certain things and dislike others. by just conforming myself to the opinions of the people around me, i was hiding from the world what God intended for me to be.
i know that there are some things in this world that are universal, things that characterizes God himself and is in all of us since we are created in his image. things like seeking justice and loving others. but i also know that for some things, God gave us the freedom to decide for ourselves whether or not we like it. and for that, i am grateful because it makes conversing with friends that much more interesting. i don't want people around me to just agree with me just because i think that means they like me. their differing opinions should not become barriers to our friendship. rather, we should welcome fresh perspectives because it will open our eyes to something we have never considered before.
