So after a few days of self-reflection (ha), I’ve really been thinking about my social status and my friends at church. There have been a few events rise between certain people, and it’s just given me a better understanding of some of the kids and who they truely are. That being said, I can safely and honestly say, I have five friends in my youth group of 25, and I’m happy with my five friends.

My mom asks me different times when I go out, why I don’t ask such-and-such to come with us. Basically, there are two reasons why:

• You can’t really be friends with people who are shallow.

And I don’t mean shallow as in ‘Oh my freakin gosh! My mascara’s running and my shoe fell off… Do I look like I just woke up out of bed? I’m too sexy for my shirt..’ Yeah, not that shallow. :tongue: More like, I can’t have a deep conversation with that person–’hello. How are you? I”m doing alright. Didja do something different with ? It’s looks good. etc. etc.’ When I’m with my friends, and when I want to talk to my friends, I want to talk about things that really matter to me–how I’m feeling, what I think about on certain issues, my problems, dreams, what I”m working towards, what’s bothering me.

I don’t want to bad-mouth any of the kids at my group, but I just don’t have that sort of conversational connection like I do with my ‘close circle.’ Even when I try to go beyond the surface, it just doesn’t work… :confused: What’s the point in trying to pursue a relationship and a friendship if I’m the only one trying to push it forward and make it grow?

• I realize my friends influence me

You hear it all the time. ‘Your friends influence you, so choose wisely!’ And seeing the true character of some of the kids… It’s not what I want to emulate. As hard as it is to admit, some kids just don’t give off a great impression of a Christian. Again, I don’t want to bad mouth or make it seem like I’m some uber high and mighty Christian whom all must bow at my feet and worship… I’ve just seen how some people react to certain situations, and their choices weren’t exactly loving or God-filled; and that’s not how I want to become.

I don’t want to associate myself and get a reputation of being around such-and-such when such-and-such is a beanhead at times. I also realize that certain traits will ‘rub off’ on me or influence me on other things, and I don’t want that to happen.

I’m perfectly content with the five friends I have at Word of Life.