Sometimes I feel like I'm looked down upon, or doubted for my abilities to do things, or seen as innocent in every sense. I feel like sometimes I'm not taken seriously or respected as an equal when doing anything from service to just talking and being friends with people.

I understand we're put into this system of YFC leaders, or that society dictates that being serious or "tough" equals maturity, but in all honesty, YFC and society aside, you're just a human being. Nothing too great as many people think we are compared to the universe.

The reason I act care free, a bit weird and sometimes a bit too "troll"-like is because I love life. When brought to the light and almighty presence of God, one command is barely enough for us to hold: Love one another. In our humility when brought before Him, what could you honestly do for God that is pleasing? How you ran that event? Lead that worship? Gave that awesome talk? Was a chapter head or area head or PV? Those things are only pleasing when done in love for Him, done through Him, and done by His grace. Sure, you had these responsibilities and were pretty important for awhile, but for me, past the service roles of YFC are you really being a Christian? Are you really being a respectable human being?


Did you forgive that person who hurt you? Did you feed, counsel and clothe the poor? Did you truly humble yourself before God? Did you go to confession? Were you prideful in dealing with people? Did you ever judge someone? Did you ever look down on members or those "below" you because you were a leader? Did you try to include new people? Did you try to guard your heart and the other person's heart? Did you avoid peer pressure and stay true to yourself? Did you always try to tell the truth? Did you refrain from pointing fingers and just admit your wrongs and mistakes? Were you respectful of others not because of any position in YFC but because it is God's command to respect other human beings?


Were you genuinely loving?

To me, to love people is the most important thing before anything else. And any service for God is fake without it. I guess that's the reason I try to just be an honest, innocent and smiling guy. Because that's what Jesus commanded: to love.

And to truly love others is to forgive them, to respect them, to be kind, and to always want the best for them.

I honestly just live my life everyday trying to live it to the fullest for God and to love and forgive others just as God has unconditionally loved and forgiven me. It's nothing complicated, but in fact it's probably the hardest lifestyles to live out there.

I challenge you to step up in just being a better person--all service roles, all friends, all societies, all hurts, all pasts, and all things of this world aside.

Just make your life's judgement between you and Him alone.