Very often, American culture sends out conflicting messages. However, many of us probably never notice it. I'd like to very briefly discuss just two of the many instances of these kinds of conflicting messages.

We often hear the popular admonition, "just be yourself." However, at times, we are also told that we should change our ways, improve ourselves, and/or rid ourselves of certain bad habits. If I'm really to "be myself", then I'm going to act just the way God made me - warts, imperfections, character flaws, bad attitudes, and all. If I'm going to change or improve in any way, then I can't be myself.

Pithy sayings like "age is just a number" and "you're only as old as you feel" have been and continue to be repeated over and over again in our culture. However, we are also told that age is a tangible number that matters quite a bit, so therefore we shouldn't wait until we're too old to trying to accomplish certain things. That "stay in school" public service announcement depicting an older lady futilely attempting cheerleader exercises and painfully screaming, "oh! oh! oh!", is a prime example of this. Also, I doubt that most parents would agree to let their 16-year-old daughter date a 30-year-old man, even he told them, "I know I'm 30, but I feel like I'm just 16."