"All outta love"

Romans 12:9

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.

Acceptance by others is a hard pill to swallow as a youth...

Do this, don't do that, your life becomes a tightrope of walking lies.

When the crowd moves one way but your heart moves the other, your identity becomes compromised.

After time you finally just lose yourself and your life becomes a blur.

Oh the Woes of our early years. But sometimes it's a way to survive. In high-risk situations, it's can be the safest option to follow the crowd, rather than drawing attention to yourself. Threats of violence are easier to avoid when adhering to a group, values or not your target is minimized ... until you become invisible.

Then you meet Jesus, and your whole world is changed... How did I end up there? And how did God know? It doesn't matter how deep the hole is because Jesus' Love penetrates the hardest of hearts and the coldest of intentions.

Jesus, Thank You... You were there!

I smile through tears the way we first met.

My search had turned into exhaustion, but now peace replaces it. Chills roll up my spine reliving that time, and when things go south I simply recall that day. Thank you for opening that door and thank you for the memory... in Your name, Amen.

1 John 4:8

"Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."