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Intro: Between the Lines


As a student of life, I have a lot of experience. And as a writer, I‌ have a lot to say about those experiences. A lot to share.. A lot to teach. But too often, I’ve kept those thoughts bottled up for reasons I’m only now beginning to recognize.

For many years of my life, I‌ performed. At least, I did my best to. I‌ was so concerned with what others thought of me that I‌ meticulously curated every part of my life that was visible. Love, I‌ thought, came from cleanliness. From perfection. But real love is messy. A glance at the cross proves that. It allows the giver to make sacrifices without keeping any record, and helps them continue to do so even when they have nothing left in them to give. It isn't wanting the other person, but wanting the best for the other person. Real love doesn't retreat at the first sight of imperfection, but wages on in spite of it. It trusts, and it chooses to understand. But above all, it never looks back. 

I‌ think that belief found its way into my art. Into my writing. It had to be perfect. It had to have weight. Whatever I‌ said had to hold true even under the most scrutinous eye. In limiting myself to perfection, I‌ held myself back. Art is not perfect. It can never be perfect. Art, by definition, challenges the status quo. Art, by my definition, must reflect the very essence of the human spirit:‌ Fiery; Fluid; Paradoxical; Raw. Tellingly, niether can the human spirit reach perfection on this side of eternity. To do so is idolatry. The pursuit of excellence, however- that is worship. And so, I‌ begin a new project. Between the Lines will be my voice. My unfiltered voice. Here, I‌ will make my observations about the world, unbothered by category or purpose. Here, I will teach, and here, I‌ will learn. But here, above all, I‌ will be true to myself. And my one hope is that my readers… my students… will find the courage to do the same.

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