Make Up Your Own Mind

One of Aesop's fables tells about a war between the birds of the air and the beasts of the field. The bat couldn't make up his mind which side he wanted to be on. So he decided to play it cool. When the birds were winning he would be a bird. When the animals were winning he would be one of them. How could he lose?
But when the war was over and neither side won, the bat was left without any friends. He was an enemy to both sides. So he has to hide during the day in caves and barns or any other out-of-the-way dark place he can find. Only at night, while the others are asleep, does he dare come out.

The bat is like the boy who asked his dad how he could be popular. "Why," answered the man, "go along with the crowd." "But, what if there are two crowds, Dad?" he asked. "Well, then," answered the man wisely, "go with the larger one!"

The fellow or girl who tries to be all things to all people will end up being no one to anybody. They will enjoy a burst of popularity for a while but people will soon get wise to them and discover how empty they really are. That kind of person cannot be trusted and they'll not fool others very long. They will even weary of themselves.

We have to stand up for what we think is right. We cannot always pick what seems the popular stand, for the crowd is not always right. People may get angry with you when you vote against them. But after a while, if they discover that you are honest and sincere in your beliefs, they will respect you even when they think you are wrong.

Give me something to stand for, O God.