for a friend...

(less specific than the original letter)

I know it's borderline impossible to believe in a truth or element about yourself when you don't see it there, especially when a lot of your self-worth and self-knowledge hinges on it, but maybe we all need to learn how to step out of our self-perceptions and let our loving, supporting community--who we trust in--help develop our identity. I need your help in believing that I am worth it; you need our help to believe that you are too: that you are very smart, capable, intelligent, and wise. So don't worry about school [or anything else that anyone out there sheds tears over because they simply don't feel good enough]--of all of the things in life, it is not something that should hold much weight in your definition of yourself. I think that's why I get frustrated when people recognize it as part of my identity: it's just something I do, not something that makes me who I am. And if it's something that you just do, then it can easily be something that you don't do. Friend, you matter, and are so good in areas that are more important than school--I really believe God gifted you that way. And I know the world tells us school is something that we should be good in, that you aren't as worthy if you aren't as good at it, but you know what? Fuck them! We are worthy because of the cross, and we are good because of Christ. In the future Kingdom of God, it doesn't matter shit if you passed a certain class or whether or not you got good grades. From the perspective of the Kingdom, from Jesus' point of view, those things just fade into obscurity.

So, know that you are good, because of the God you seek to serve through serving others everyday; because of the breath and Spirit of God you dwell in daily, because of Hebrew letters tattooed on the wrists and neck of a friend, because of the crosses drawn on the feet of two brothers we know and love, and because of the Latin on my back that proclaims that we are all children of God. Any other qualifier is meaningless, so much so that in response we laugh at them, joyfully and hopefully like children who are delighted to run into the open arms of their Daddy (or Mommy). So, breathe. Smile. Delight in the rain. Do a cartwheel. Smoke a cigarette. Pray to believe in who you are, the whole and beautiful person made by God. You are loved so dearly by so many people--let that be enough to get you through the day. Let the comfort and love of God, the Father, Son, and Spirit allow you to sleep peacefully at night; and let the hope of the Cross and the Future Kingdom--that is here, but not yet--grace your heart that you can get up every morning and delight in each new day.

We are constantly being made new. What hope and joy and peace we have in that promise.


Someone moving in my heart told me to write this for a specific friend, but its love and sincerity is extended to all who read it.