MJ News

I don’t like labels.  They bother me.  Whether it’s fashion or music or boyfriends.  Labels are just a tool people use to define things.  Not everything needs to be defined.  People have this inherent desire to put things in boxes.  Okay, you’re carrying a Louis Vuitton handbag?  Guess you are showy or have a lot of money…

I feel the same way with religion.  This weekend I was talking with my mom about faith vs. religion vs. culture.  It’s a conversation we have every so often.  Thankfully it is not too often as the conversation tends to leave me very frustrated.  As much as I am independent, I still hope for my parents understanding and blessing in the life choices I’ve made.  This one conversation always leaves me relatively cold.  I strive for some recognition from my mom that she can relate to my faith.  I never get it.  And yet, in 8 years I still haven’t come to terms with that.

People ask me, what’s your religion… or they say, what do you believe… or what is your background.  All three questions have different answers… I never know how to explain that.  What answer are they looking for?  Do they want to know what I believe?  I believe in God and I believe in Jesus… But my background is Jewish.  Wait… did I just open up a can of worms?  Maybe.  But do I want to delve into a conversation with someone who asked an innocent question?  Labels… I don’t fit into one.  And because I don’t fit into one… I get judged differently.  Or people don’t know where to put me, but they don’t necessarily want to hear the back story and I don’t necessarily want to share.  Maybe if someone said, wow, that’s interesting, I’d love to sit and have a cup of coffee with you and hear about that.  Lately, those questions arise in passing.  Someone asking a very innocent question that should be easy to answer.  For me, it’s not.

Labels… I hate them.  Please don’t place me in a box… I outgrew the box a long time ago and I don’t plan to return anytime soon.