I was IFB long enough to know what a lot of people have probably been thinking about me. I quit reading the KJV, started listening to “worldly” sounding Christian music, went back to school and got filled full of secular education, started wearing blue jeans, and, sure enough, next thing you know, I’ve got a nose ring. When you give up one of your “convictions”, it’s just a matter of time before you give up one more and one more. It’s a slippery slope, and who knows what’s at the bottom?

A while back, I got it in my head that I wanted to get my nose pierced. It started with my brother’s ex-wife who had a very cool, tiny stud in her nose, and I thought it looked awesome. I entertained the idea for quite a while before I brought it up to Chris. He said no. Absolutely not! I pestered him about it for a while, and then gave up and got my cartilage pierced instead. I still asked every now and then, but he continued to say no. I really, really wanted one, though. I loved the way it looked. I liked the idea of shaking up people’s ideas of what I should or could or would do. I would bring it up in lots of half joking ways to Chris, and he would always say no. He totally surprised me one night, though, and told me that, if I really wanted to get my nose pierced to go ahead. He said he didn’t really have a problem with it anymore. I was elated.

I emailed Amy in the middle of the night to tell her I was getting my nose pierced. This is what I told her: “Funny how something so insignificant can make me feel so happy. It’s like I won a battle. It stands for my independence. It means I can do something that I want, and it’s not for anyone else. I know he is just tolerating it…you don’t like the idea…my parents will hate it…I’ll get lots of flak for it. So it really is just about me.  I’m not doing it for anyone else. It’s also kind of like wearing jeans for me. I don’t know if you know what that means. Do you? It means freedom.
I’m happy. It’s such a little thing but it stands for so much more to me.
Ive been grinning my face off all night.”

It means freedom. That is why I have this nose ring. I am free.

I got the piercing a couple days later. Here’s a video:

I love my piercing. I have no plans and no desire to get anything else pierced (except for having my cartilage redone…it got infected and grew up when I took the jewelry out to let it heal), but I am thrilled with my nose piercing. I love the way it looks. I love how it makes people reevaluate me. I like the questions it prompts and the topics it brings up. I am just really happy with it.

So, what’s at the bottom of a slippery slope?

FREEDOM!!!