I was raised to be very opinionated and firm in my beliefs. As an adult I have found myself not questioning my faith beliefs, but questioning the validity of the judgements I was taught. God is love, his greatest commandment is love, therefore I must live a life of love. But where do my boundries lie? At what point do I love others and yet still hold firm to the guidelines of my belief. I do not accept the open liberal way of thinking, but I do however find myself open to caring for people regardless their beliefs, sexual identity, or life mistakes. We are all human, we all have a story that has brought us to the place in history's timeline that we belong. We are purposed for this life, in this time, in the way we were created...not for anyone else's acceptance or approval, for ours and God's alone. I strive to live my life and make my decisions for myself and my family regardless of public opinion or outside approval. Sometimes that makes me unpopular and sometimes that makes me fearful however, my greatest fear is getting to the end of my life and having regrets that take me to a place of despair. I want to know that I lived fully, that I loved fully, and that somewhere in my timeline I cast a stone that created a ripple of hope, love and kindness to the small corner of the world I exist. My role in this life is not to take on the responsibility of making sure those around me are living the way I have decided they ought to live, but to inspire them to discover their purpose and encourage them to live to their fullest according to their strengths. To think for themselves and be empowered to be whovever their innermost being is screaming to be. To recognize that it doesn't matter who or what the world thinks they are, fulfillment will never be found unless they satsified with who they are and what they are putting out into the world. I can find myself at the end of my life with scores of stored up earthly treasure and be impoverished without the satisfaction and joy of knowing that I made a difference in someone elses life. Now, in mid-life, I choose to step outside my own selfish bubble and see and experience those around me. Those who resemble me and my life and those that push me to step outisde my comfort zone and open my heart and mind to something different.