having recently stepped out into the real world for the first time, i'm still getting used to the idea of 'everybody' and 'everything'. i was aware of how many different cultures this world contains; i was not aware of the vast number of them; i was not prepared for the stream of questions that would run through my mind at a million miles per hour every time i encountered a new value, a new belief, a new way of life. and the farthest i've ever been is europe; i haven't begun to see God's entire creation.

but when you're stuck in a place where stereotypes stick to you as soon as you say one thing or make one move out of the norm, when you're told that because you're a christian, you must be a stickler and not accepting of anyone else, just like all the ones the media tells you about.

but i have been going through a change, an almost metamorphasis of sorts. i am beginning to understand the true meaning of Christ's love and the true purpose, and that is to love everyone, and accept everyone, for who they are. i may still be growing in faith, but i am rooted enough that anyone else can't uproot me. i can still be shaken, but you can't pull me away from this.

the way religion seems to be portrayed today, people aren't too sure about heading into the unknown and forking over their souls to the company store (okay, i'm stuck). but while i go to church and believe it's good for me and my faith, i tend to think of christianity--at least my beliefs--as just that...faith. not religion. religion seems to bind you to a certain specific set of rules, and with all the different christian denominations out there, each with their own sets of fine print, it all seems to clash and we all think we are the right ones.

and sure, my faith has been proven, in some valid cases, "logically". but the greater part of it doesn't rest on the shaky foundation. logic changes, logic clashes, logic disagrees; there can be several perfectly logical answers to one question, and they are all right, and wrong, and it can all depend on opinion. but faith is a solid thing.

with all the unstableness elsewhere in this heart and life of mine, i need something solid to stand on.

-d