If I Think Wrong, I’ll Do Wrong: Keeping Your Mind Renewed
A Bi-weekly singles column by Ashley Peterson
“I want to be like Nicki Minaj when I grow up,” said Sheila, a precocious 15-year-old with a face piercing beneath her bottom lip on the right side. I sat in my chair at the front of the room listening to this beautiful teenaged girl who was slouched in her seat with light pink streaks of hair in her bangs, and a matching ponytail hanging midway down her back. Her smooth mocha skin, slanted dark brown eyes, and radiant smile complemented by a perfectly straight set of teeth, make her really stand out.
Sheila is one of the “cool girls” who “only comes to church because her grandmother makes her,” she tells me every chance she gets. I always respond, “Well, Ms. Sheila, I hope one day you’ll have the personal desire to come.” But consistently, the feisty teen, who has a hard exterior but is really sweet underneath it all, acts like she is tortured by the teen girls Bible study class every Thursday.
But last week, she decided she wanted to be the center of attention and have a little fun by offering up a shocking answer when I asked, “What women of the Bible might you want to be like?”
Nicki Minaj clearly wasn’t the answer I was expecting to receive!
“You probably don’t even know who Nicki Minaj is Sister Peterson, do you?” Sheila laughed sarcastically. Immediately, more than half the students in the small windowless room cackled along with her. Certain segments of the class of about 20 students high-fived each other, appearing pleased that one of their peers had managed to stump the “lame” Bible class teacher.
And they were right. I was lost.
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