I Don't Drink. I Don't Smoke.

I wasn't expecting to be challenged or questioned or asked or whatever you want to call it for my faith so soon when all of a sudden I had someone asking me if I was one of those Christians. One of the American Christians. One who didn't drink or smoke. One who didn't have fun. I hardly had a chance to tell her my name, major and where I was from before she launched into her questions.

My reply was pretty simple, "Well, yeah. I am...but I have fun".  As I type the words I know it sounds forced and stale, but would like to think if you were there, you would have seen a smile and a laugh, creating a definite answer yet space for her to respond. And oh did she respond. 

How can you have fun? You don't dance? You don't go to clubs? You don't drink? How are you supposed to have fun here? Tell me: what are you going to do for fun?

My question exactly. I paused, and told her I didn't really know. She laughed at me and I did too. 

She talked about how by the end of the semester she was going to change me, get me to drink, and I said game on, try your hardest. 

Here's the thing - and I told her this not in these words but close enough: It's my opinion that drinking and dancing aren't bad in themselves. Not at all - get a drink and have a good time if you want, be responsible. But I signed my name to a contract saying I wouldn't drink. I plan on abiding in my decision - you can do what you want. 

We wrestled with it for a few more minutes and moved on.

There's no judgement on others who decide to do otherwise - that's not my place. See here and here and here for my reasoning on that. Hopefully I'm not taking it out of context. 

I want to draw a bold line between expressing an opinion and an a judgement - too many become offended when one side of an argument expresses their opinion, for which the opposing side mistakes as a condemning judgement. I want to buck the idea that opinion requires condemnation, making it clear that one can have a solid opinion without judging another for their action. 

Anyways - that went a different direction than I originally thought but I just wanted to make it clear: just because I don't do something doesn't mean another is judged because they choose to do otherwise. You probably have another opinion, but I believe that's a part of the beauty of freedom we have been granted. 

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So get that I loved talking with my new friend, she's friendly and loud and outgoing and a lot of fun. While sometimes I felt a little put on the spot, she had fair questions and I hope I gave her something different.

Lighter post on deck for tomorrow ;)