January 8, 2012 2:03:56 AM EST
<p><span style="font-size: small;">Hello, I'm Louise, I come from Cebu Philippines. In my place, people are very conservative and they frown on males who have ear piercings. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: small;">I've always admired trendsetters and adventurous people. For me, trendsetters shape the future. I also believe in man's basic freedom, but in my country, both these qualities are muted and suppressed. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: small;">In my place, men with ear piercings are stereotyped as hippies, uneducated, dirty and substance abusers. But as I look with fascination at my favorite stars who look so great with ear piercings, part of me rebelled inside. Why should I subject myself to the mores of society? Don't I have the right to be myself? </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: small;">So in spite of my parents' objection, in spite of my church's standing, I went ahead and got my first ear piercing. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: small;">My parents and my pastor was so furious about it, and I was almost treated as an outcast. I felt so guilty at first because I was brough up as an obedient son and a devout Christian. But then a friend shwoed me that ear piercing is actually a Biblical practice, and not just ear piercing but also nose piercing.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: small;">The verses about Abraham's servant bringing a gold nose ring as one of his gifts to Rebekah really set me free. I realized that soiety is full of rules, and it is only up to man to be subject to those rules. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: small;">Funny that I should find that freedom in the Old Testament which is the Book of Law, and I was persecuted by New Testamnet era Christians who are supposed to be under grace. There is really irony there.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: small;">Anyways, I have learned a great lesson with what I did. I learned that we can be prisoners of our own devices. Man created law for themselves, and if you submit to that law, you become a slave. But if you choose to be free and be true to yourself, you can soar higher than an eagle. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: small;">So I have several ear piercings since then and I'm on my way to having a labret piercing.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: small;">I hope this to be an encouragement to everyone. They can imprison your body but not your spirit!</span><br> </p>
This post was edited by Jean Louise Quino at February 24, 2012 3:47:59 AM EST
