I heard someone today tell me that, “a person with experience will never be at the mercy of someone with an opinion”.  This was said as we were discussing on how to better understand the variances of levels of faith between individuals, and proving our opinions.  The statement pointed out that if a person has been through a situation (i.e., trials, experiences, blessings, failures); their experience in that specific situation, gives them such a deep revelation or belief, that their faith (feeling) cannot be influenced by someone else’s opinion, on their experience in that situation.

For example, a person from New York, who didn’t grow up in my hometown, probably wouldn’t understand why I don’t like going to Mississippi.  My experiences with racism in Mississippi which influence my feelings, are dominant over any of their opinions they may give.  And, vice versa; I feel that my opinions on visiting neighborhoods in New York would probably not influence their feelings, because of their experiences with going into threatening places like North Manhattan or Harlem.  Experiences dominate opinions in regards to personal feelings, attitudes, and making decisions.

Some things in life a person can’t learn by going to class, or by listening to friends.  You know I’ve been around people who smoke all my life, and for some reason I’ve never had the desire to smoke.  When it would’ve been so easy to steal a cigarette from my father, or simply just ask him for one of his.  I choose not to.  But, my decision not to smoke wasn’t made just because of my knowledge on how smoking causes cancer, because everyone knows that, yet they are kids today who can’t wait until they are old enough to buy their first pack of cigarettes.  I believe it was because of my experience of being healthy and feeling good, and that dominated anyone else’s opinion of why I would need a smoke a cigarette to feel a certain way.

Experiencing all that life has to offer will also give you wisdom, regardless if what you experience has a positive or negative affect on you.  Sometimes I long to feel the energy of living, and whatever it is, I feel like I need to stop thinking and just do it!  You know, I would rather spend time with someone, enjoying our time together, than see myself in a picture with them.  I would rather experience winning a basketball game and yelling while dunking on someone, than look at a picture of myself in a jersey.  Life is about living, pursuing dreams, working towards achieving goals, and giving God the glory for all of His blessings as we keep our faith in Him.

Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 — ¹⁰ All that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor and this was my reward for all my labor. ¹¹ Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun.

I love this song!  Take a listen