I COULD BE STARVING

They are hungry for food. They are thirsty for water.

There are millions of children that have starved for days and, perhaps, weeks. In third-world countries, humans like myself dig through unsanitary areas in hopes of discovering any sort of edible food. As a child, my parents would frequently remind me to finish my dinner because several others in these third-world countries rarely have a dinner like that every night. As I "matured," I would think back on what my parents would say. When I would eat out with my family and eat until my wits end, I reflected upon myself on the car ride home. I could be starving; instead, every night, I sleep with a full stomach. Some people do not have the luxury of eating. EATING. I complain if my stomach aches of an emptiness and I was unable to eat lunch. Those children must be in so much pain to starve for such extended periods of time.

They are hungry for love. They are thirsty for a drink from the well.

I remember, as a child, being so shocked as someone explained atheism. "They don't know what God is? They don't go to church?" You see, I was blessed to have a mother who forced me out of bed every Saturday morning to attend service. At first, I dreaded church. Sometimes, I would get jealous of people who could wake up late or do fun things on Saturday mornings. Scratch that. Often times. Church just wasn't my thing. But if you ask me now, I enjoy going to church every Saturday morning. Though it took quite a bit of prompting, I was able to know who Christ is and eventually fell in love with Him. God is seriously a part of me. He is my favorite part of myself actually.

As I "matured," I realized how awesome it is to have a church life and community. Whilst growing up and living life, I received many close friends whom I love dearly. My personality, spirituality, and heart developed within a safe and supportive environment. All these things are things I have taken for granted. Little did I know, there are people in this world who have no clue what this God is. There are people in this world that don't have a church family. There are people in this world who don't have access to a church to worship and practice their beliefs FREELY. If only the people of this world could experience these things. If only they met Christ. If only they met love. Perhaps, this world could be a better place.

They are hungry for safety. They are thirsty for peace.

The world is no longer safe. Jokes on terrorism are common now only to cope with the uncertainty of safety. It seems every year there are catastrophic events that shocks the entire world. My father fears the security of my safety because of the dangers that roam the streets. The darkness within the hearts of bright-eyed people. My being alive every morning is truly a blessing. The stranger on the street is blessed to be able to live today. Harm could have chosen my heart. Instead, I live. Harm could have showed up in my front yard. Instead, I live. Every passing day is a blessing on top of blessings on top of blessings. Tori Kelly warns us, "the same ones that praise you are the same ones that hate you." Authenticity is fragile now. Unfortunately. It is unsafe outside but also inside. All those who are aware live cautiously in paranoia. Only seeking a peace that seems to appear only in distant dreams. However, there are people and moments that allowed me to forget the danger of this world. With a God so true, I can briefly taste victory and peace. Though brief, it is sweet and so satisfying. So appetizing, so quenching.

These are the thoughts that rummaged my mind as I bred the desire to enhance the importance of my countless blessings. This was the beginning of my metaphysical insight and depth of inner-thoughts. Welcome to my mind.

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O Come to the Altar by Elevation Worship//Brother by the Brilliance//Funny (live) by Tori Kelly