GREETINGS,
BORN INTO TRAGIC CIRCUMSTANCES, PARALYSIS AND LIVING A LIFE OF SICKNESS MY LIFE WAS OFTEN A TRAGEDY. OUT OF EVERYONE AROUND ME, I HAD A REASON TO BE HATEFUL OR ANGRY. LUCKILY, I WAS SAVED BY A STRONG FAITHFUL DESIRE PLACED UPON ME AND MY FAMILY. GROWING UP, I LEARNED TO FOCUS TOWARD THE ANSWER, NOT DWELL ON MY PROBLEMS. TAKING CONTROL OF THE SITUATION, MY FAMILY AND I WERE DETERMINED. SINCE MY ILLNESS HAD NO CURE, WE DIDN'T EXPECT TO WIN IN THE LITERAL SENSE. INSTEAD, WE APPRECIATED EVERY LIVING DAY AS A SUCCESS. THROUGH THIS FAITH, I HAVE EXPERIENCE IN SEEING BEYOND THE PROBLEMS OF DAILY LIFE. I HAD NO CHOICE. THIS WAS THE ONLY WAY TO SURVIVE. FROM EXPERIENCE, I WANT TO SHARE MY GIFT TO YOU ON LIFE. YOU MAY NOT AGREE WITH EVERYTHING, YOU MAY NOT ACCEPT ANYTHING BUT THIS IS ME AND THE REASON I AM ALIVE.
DEVOUT FOLLOWERS AND DEDICATED LEADERS ALIKE, HOLD THE POWER OF FATE OR CONSEQUENCE. EVERY LIVING ORGANISM ACTS OUT OF PURPOSE AND CONCLUSION. IN THE PUREST PHYSICAL SENSE, EACH BREATHE WE TAKE IS BLANK THAT BRINGS LIFE. DESPITE OUR OFTEN CONFLICTING TRUTHS, A COMMON THREAD SEWING ALL OF MANKIND TOGETHER IS FAITH. A THEORETICAL TRUST IN GOD, LIVING BY SCRIPTURE AND MYTH, OR GENUINE HARD LABOR ARE OFTEN WORLDS APART. AS A RESULT, FREE WILL THAT SUPPOSEDLY GRANTS INDEPENDENCE CAN ALSO BRING CONFLICT AND OPPRESSION. IRONICALLY, FREEDOM HAS A PRICE. FORTUNATELY, THE TRUE BEAUTY OF OUR WORLD CANNOT BE IDENTIFIED BY A UTOPIA WITH BRIGHT LIGHTS OF CELEBRATION OR WHITE FLAGS OF PEACE. THIS IMPERFECT WORLD WE LIVE IN IS REAL, NOT FANTASY. INSTEAD, THE ESSENCE OF LIFE SHINES THROUGH OUR EVERYDAY STRUGGLES. JUST LIKE OUR PHYSICAL NEED TO BREATH, OUR SOULS SURVIVE OFF PURPOSE. WORKING TO EARN MONEY, EXERCISING TO GAIN STRENGTH AND EATING TO FEED OUR HUNGER ARE ALL EXAMPLES OF ORDINARY HUMAN RITUALS THAT NEED FAITH. IN THIS CASE, FATE IS THE END RESULT OF FAITH. THOUGH YOU MAY THRIVE ON MORALS AND RELIGION OR EXCEL DEPENDENTLY ON HUMAN ABILITIES, TO PRACTICE AND REMAIN THESE WAYS REQUIRE HOPE AND FAITH.
SINCERELY,
JEF
