To my teenage son

To my teenage son:

John the Evangelizer said that, “Your truth is holy.  Your deepest truth is the holiest thing about you.”  This rings true in every cell of my body.

Which means…if ever you feel social pressure to conform, or hide a part of yourself, that goes against God.

That voice you hear is actually the culture judging you, not the Great Creator.  Cultural values are learned or inherited from our ancestors/family.  They are not universal, they are created by man to control other people.  That is all they are.

It is desperately important to know this, or else you will believe that the holy things about you are wrong.  This is actually not possible.

Your deepest truth is the part of you that the world needs more of.  True holiness, or living in your truth, is healing to all those that it touches.  We heal ourselves, and the world, when we honor our holiest truths.  With integrity.  With compassion for those that don’t understand.  With dignity.

It is ok if people don’t get it.  They are not for you.  This cannot actually hurt you.  And anybody that seeks to judge you is trying to control you.  Stop that nonsense at the border.  You’re playing a bigger game.  God’s game.

(And, that person.  Those people.  The ones you fear: they are your greatest teachers.  They need to see your truth the most, because that's how you show that you're not for sale.)

Here is my commitment to you: I have not always been honest in my deepest truths.  I have withheld those most precious jewels from people for fear of being judged.  It is my commitment to you, as your mother, to be a better role model.  Because you can’t model what you don’t see.

I love you with all of my heart.  You dazzle me.  But you can’t show that to the world because I haven’t shown you how to do it yet.

So, here I go.

And, if ever I forget, I hope to see your eyes watching me.  Reminding me.  Coaching me to do things that are scary.  I just forgot.  But now I know.
God is calling us on.