10 September | Youth
«Abstain from every form of evil.» 1 Thessalonians 5:22
Nobody likes to be judged by their appearance. In life in society, however, this is almost inevitable. Hence, many decide to use symbolic language to assert themselves: a slogan, an artwork, a haircut, a chain around the neck, a tattoo, a cap, or a piercing. Fifteen-year-old Jesse is the oldest among his seven siblings. Due to the influence of certain friends, he started wearing piercings. When he got his sixth piercing –all on his face– his parents and aunts pressured him to take them off. He did not listen. He wanted to make his own decisions. One day, a pastor who lived in the neighborhood and knew him made him an offer. He accepted. “Ten dollars for a piercing” was the deal. He then “sold” five, but he kept one, which he did not part with.
The same is true for many of us. We have difficulty deciding what is most important. Jesse had, on the one hand, a personal attraction to piercings, and so did his friends in the same age group. On the other hand, his family and people at church considered it inappropriate.
Sometimes, for pure convenience, we decide to stay in the middle, and that is why we keep the “sixth piercing.” Deep down, Jesse was not worried about being coherent, but just wanted to have more peace at home. And he did! The pressure exerted by the family decreased, although no one there was completely satisfied.
It is true that appearance does not say everything, but it says a lot; and if what it says does not represent the essence of who you are, then change it. Change not to please strangers who care little about you and who you do not care about either. Change to make those who love you happy, especially if the change makes you better. Why not? That is what love is (1 Cor 13:4-7). If love does not involve surrender, respect and commitment, can it still be called love?
When you ask yourself who are the people who love you most in this life, do not forget that God is at the top of the list. He has something to tell you about the sixth piercing. Would you be willing to listen to Him?