Story.

It's a funny thing isn't it?

It's the way we communicate our lives, the lives of those past, and our dreams of what is to come.

It's also a portal into the realm of fantasy.

With carefully selected words, the author takes hold of the reader's senses, pulls them into their imagination, forces them to see things that don't exist, hear things that have never been said.

But what about when these combine?

Story.

It's a funny thing.

When the stories of fiction speak to reality.

When characters that never exist take the place of countless humans.

Jacob is one such character.

While he is but a product of the author's imagination, his struggle is reflected across the world, in some people more than others.

He will struggle

He will weep.

He will love and be loved.

He will hurt.

He will bleed.

He will hope and pray.

He is the person behind all the names and signs.

See what it is to falter, to question what you thought you knew. To feel the things thought taboo.

He is you.

In different ways, different stories.

He is me.

Through the wants and desire and pain.

We are human.

Embrace the humanity.

See the stories of those you would shun.

See the good and the evil.

See the light and the dark.

You see a gay

A queer

A fag.

That's a human created by God.

You see a homophobe

A bigot

That's a human God loves.

Do you see?

Do you understand?

In a society blurred by political agendas and thoughtless slogans, this is all part of the greater story.

Put aside the glasses of arrogance.

Let go of the assumptions that cloud your thoughts.

At least for a time.

Embrace this story.

And see yourself,

And your friends,

And your enemies,

For who they really are.

Some may say that my words are too harsh, too intolerant, too sinful.

They are welcomed in the most.

These days the issues rage from the halls of the Capital to the walls of Facebook.

These are not the days to be quiet.

So I call upon the Most High to guide my words.

I pray that this story would not be just my own.

Let the message go where this plot cannot.

Let every doubt be overwhelmed with faith.

Let every lonely man hear the calling of the one who never wants him to be alone.

Let every despair be drowned out by hope.

Let every weeping women embrace the arms that will never let go of her.

Let every lie be shattered by truth.

Let the desires into the world fade into only memories of long ago.

Let every ounce of hatred be destroyed by love.

"As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear." (Matthew 14 40-43)

"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

"Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. (1 Corinthians 13 1-10)