Surprisingly Good Advice from 'Glee'

I have to admit, I have sadly become addicted to Glee, a musical show on TV. It's a lot of drama, and is completely ridiculous in so many ways, but I just get sucked in each week because I love the music. This week's episode was about finding your own voice, which naturally in Glee terms means a lot of drama, but there were a few insightful moments. Which is what brings me to the point of this posting. The teacher said to one of the students, "Don't lose track of who you are just because it might be easier to be someone else." I think it is so easy to fall into that trap. I know I do, daily I'm sure. Sure there are plenty of things that are "me" but there are plenty of things that I avoid because I'm afraid of what others will think or whatever. It's just easier to fit in with the crowd instead of standing out and being who you really are.

I'm not sure who all will be partaking in following this blog as Kayla and I make our way across the country. So I don't know if I will upset, offend, or surprise anyone with what follows here, but this is going to be a common theme so if you're not interested after reading this post, you might as well not bother to continue reading further posts. I do know however, that one of the "me" things that I tend not to project in certain circles is my faith. I know that the majority of my friends don't care about church or religion (which is another topic in itself--HUGE difference between 'religion' and 'faith' which I'll address at some point later I'm sure) or anything like that, and that doesn't bother me so much because that has to be a choice you make in your heart; the only thing I can do is share how it has changed my life and let you make your own choices.

Anyway, I digress, the point is, I don't lie about my faith by any means, but I certainly don't wear it on my sleeve all the time. Honestly? Yes, it's easier NOT to be a Christian in today's society. There are plenty of times at school or work or wherever that it's easier to blend in rather than coming right out with it and have people treat you differently. Being a Christian these days is harder than it used to be. There are so many people who claim to be Christians and do not even remotely follow what it means to be one. I mean sure, we're all screw ups, but there's a difference between screwing up from time to time and intentionally living an immoral life. So if you ask me, Christianity is an all or nothing deal, and all of these "luke warm Christians" give us a bad name. Being a Christian is about love. You love everyone, whether you agree with them, disagree with them, whether they've hurt you in some way, whether you've never met them before, and so on. You don't judge because hi, if you haven't noticed, there are millions of things you could/should be judged for too--so what right do you have to judge someone else? So these "Christian" protestors who point fingers and preach condemnation are hypocritical because they aren't loving. There is a way to tell someone you think what they're doing is wrong but still care for them and be there for them. The people who say they're Christians then go out and party and sleep around all the time are only kidding themselves. Basically, all of these people ruin the name of "Christian," so those who truly follow what it means to be a Christian are already so discriminated against based on beliefs that aren't even what we actually believe!

It's really frustrating to me because I feel like sometimes that's why I don't wear my faith on my sleeve. I feel like the second I come out with the title people think of all the negative perceptions they have and will never take what I say seriously. And you can tell me as many times as you want that that's not true, but I'm in a political science program at school. I've seen more slander about conservative views than I knew existed, let alone the crap I hear about church and other religious groups. Yes, it's disheartening, yes, it's frustrating beyond reason, and do I say anything? Do I stand up and say this is who I am and how I feel? No. Sad, annoying, but true. I don't mean to badmouth anyone or judge anyone, I love the people I go to school with, I think they're fun and cool and illuminate me on so many things I never knew about. But it's hard to see what people classify you as when they don't realize you're "one of them." With time it's gotten easier and I have slowly started telling people more about my beliefs, but it takes so much explaining. It's not just a matter of coming out and saying, "I'm a Christian." It's saying "I'm a Christian, but this is what that actually means..." Basically there has to be an entire teaching of what that actually means before people look at you and say, "Exactly! That's what it should be about!"

There is so much slander and discrimination that accompanies being a Christian that it's easier to blend in and lose sight of what/who you really are inside. I know I'm guilty of it, I'm sure every person on the planet is guilty of it in one sense or another. I guess what I'm trying to say after all of my babbling here is that I don't want to let things make me lose sight of who I am. Being someone else is easier, fortunately however, that's another "me" quality--I never turn down a challenge. So this is me, a Christian and proud of it. Say what you want, do what you will, but I'm not going to let myself be swayed off track. I'm not perfect, never will be, so I'm going to screw up, but I'm going to hold my head high the whole way because those moments will only solidify what it is to be me.