Another Opinion

Before I travelled, a friend of mine asked me to express an opinion on a matter that concerns him. He did not like my opinion. He left me and went away. I thought it ended here. When he found out that I was back, he came to greet me. We sat together. He immediately said to me: “I have something new concerning what I had asked you about before you left. I checked with other friends, priests and lay people. They all disagreed with what you had told me”. I said to him: “You have asked for my opinion. You did not like it. That is okay. Our opinions can be different”. He was expecting other words. He got up. Without a word, he turned his back to me. This time, I did not let him go. I called him and said: “I have something for you, if you do not mind. If we ask for another person's opinion on any matter, we do not have the right to expect him to give us our own opinion. You have asked for my opinion on a matter that concerns you. You did not have to. I wanted you to stay. But you have decided to walk away. This is a decision which I respect. This is your opinion. May God be with you”. Do not ask anyone for his opinion on any matter if you are unable to accept that there exists another opinion!