Article March 23, 2015 Issue

Be true to your true self

Patrick M. Collins

I have often faced the temptation to fit in with what others were doing, even if what they were doing wasn’t the right thing. Whether in business or social situations, I have been tempted over the years to act contrary to what is truly good, to be someone other than myself.

I struggled with this temptation because I didn’t want to be different, or stand out from the crowd and be seen as an oddball. I didn’t want to draw attention to myself for being good, moral, and loving. How much easier it seemed to be “one of the gang” than to be true to what was right. This didn’t make me feel good or comfortable with myself, but it was easy. Doing the wrong thing can be easy sometimes, but it isn’t very satisfying.

Jesus didn’t fall in with the world.