Dear Reader,

I became a writer because I wanted to share my thoughts and ideas. I became a poet because poetry helps me notice, and invite others to notice, the quiet, everyday moments we often miss.

This space is meant to share those reflections. But before anything else, I want to begin with the most important message I have.

It’s a story that starts with me, though I didn’t write it.

It’s the oldest story there is, written by God Himself. At the beginning of this story, I’m not the hero. I’m someone who has broken God’s laws. Lying, cheating, stealing, selfishness, and disobedience; all of these things describe me. We call these things, anything that breaks God’s laws, sin. God Himself is holy. He cannot tolerate any sin. Because of that, He demands justice. God states that my punishment for my sin is death. This is not just physical death, it is also spiritual separation from God forever.

How could I possibly pay this punishment? I deserved this. I stood separated from God, unable to fix what I had done. I couldn’t earn my way back. I couldn’t undo the past. I was stuck.

And the truth is, this isn’t just my story, it’s everyone’s. We’ve all fallen short. We’ve all made choices that go against what is good and right. A just God cannot simply ignore that. Wrong has to be answered with justice.

But what about love? Doesn’t everyone say that God is loving? How could a loving God do this?

If a judge let someone guilty walk free just because he “felt loving,” we would call that unjust. In the same way, God doesn’t overlook wrongdoing. However, the story does not stop here. Instead, God made a way to deal with our sin without losing us.

God saw me deep in my sin, and still chose to love me.

That love didn’t ignore justice. It fulfilled it.

I owed a debt I could never repay. So God sent Jesus to pay it for me. Jesus, God’s only, perfect Son, left the glory of heaven, was born as a baby, grew as we do, yet never broke God’s law. When He was 33 years old, He was killed on a cross, a horrible death. Jesus did this in exchange for me and my sin. Jesus did not deserve this punishment. He had never sinned. He chose to trade places with me so that God saw my sin on Jesus, and Jesus’ righteousness on me.

The best news is, that Jesus did not stay dead. Three days later, He rose again. This is what makes Jesus different from any other god that is worshiped. This is what proves that He is not just a man, He is also God. This makes Him the perfect substitute for me and my sin.

At first, I didn’t understand. I didn’t even realize how much I needed that kind of grace. Over time, I came to see my need. I had to come to a place that I could admit that I had done wrong, that I couldn’t fix myself, and I could only ask Jesus to forgive me.

That was the turning point.

Not when I became perfect, but when I stopped trying to save myself and accepted the gift that was already offered.

It’s a bit like being trapped somewhere you can’t escape, with a debt far beyond anything you could ever pay. Then you discover that someone has already paid it. All that’s left is to trust them enough to accept the freedom they’re offering.

That’s what this story is.

Jesus has already made the way. But the invitation still stands. Turn from your sin, trust that Jesus died in your place, and receive this gift of salvation. All of us need this gift. All of us have broken God’s laws, and we cannot save ourselves. Will you accept Jesus’ invitation for forgiveness?

Thank you for taking the time to read the greatest story ever told. If you have questions or want to talk more about it, I would truly love to hear from you.