All my life I have been different. I'm not talking about sexual orientation or you're your efforts to be different, I'm just talking about what makes you, you. Different makes you different when you want so bad to be like everyone else. I just wanted to be like everyone else and blend in the group and become accepted unconditionally. When you're like everyone else your safe. No one is afraid of you. No one will hate you. You are totally understood and your intentions are never questioned. It seems like it's an easier road to travel and in some ways it is. When I was a little boy, I tried so hard to hide my differences. At the same time I tried so hard to make people see the real me. I just knew if they could look past my differences they would really like me. I attempted to become what others wanted me to be. In the end all of these efforts failed. I even cried out to God and asked "why did you do this to me?" "Why would you make so different that people would make fun of me? Is this some cruel joke?"

Loneliness then became my best friend. Loneliness accepted me and it was the place where I would feel safe. No one could hurt me here. All of the nasty looks and dirty names just faded away. It was nice to live here but soon my contentment was short lived. Something was missing. It dawned on me that it was me who was missing. I realized that without me there would be no laughter. Without me there would be no creative thoughts, music, art, history or great stories of will and courage.

In essence I had nothing to be a shamed of. I realized it was God's plan from the very beginning. My differences were not my burdens but instead they were my blessings. My differences didn't make me better than you, just different than you. I understood that I shouldn't be afraid of your differences and you shouldn't be afraid of mine.

We instead should embrace each other's differences and celebrate that God took time to grant us such an awesome privilege to express them. I am not afraid anymore but sadden by anyone who refuses to accept my differences. They will loose a great opportunity to come to know the passions of my life. It definitely takes courage to be different. I understand the fear that is associated with it. So live free, live well and never forget different is good.