“Please note: You haven’t left the jungle. The trees still eclipse the sky, and the thorns still cut the skin. Animals lurk and rodents scurry. The jungle is still a jungle. It hasn’t changed, but you have. You have changed because you have hope. And you have hope because you have met Someone who can lead you out.”
(Let The Journey Begin – Max Lucado)

Circumstances loom over our heads to darken our days, people tear at our emotions, some lurk to destroy us completely with no remorse or covertness to their motives. Others sneak like rats, pleasant to your face, but bringing out the knife the moment you turn your back. Who we are is offense to most, uneasy for many, and, dare I say, ludicrous to the world. This world, who cannot imaging a Shepherd that cares for us in spite of who we are, calls us to be His with no prerequisite required (i.e. we do nothing to “qualify”), and loves us without prejudice no matter how many times we fall. He is still there to lead us out of the jungle to a better place, His presence. It is only to this hope that we need cling. In an ever changing world, we stand firm for an ever steadfast LORD.

“He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” -Psalm 40:20