not alone.

Open your eyes. You are not the only student in this classroom. You are not the only one who can't figure it out. You are not the only one who feels like there could be something more. You are not the only person in this life.

Because: the girl across the hall is struggling with homework, too. the guy sitting next to you can't focus on school because his family is splitting up. the odd girl that answers the questions wrong is from a different country and struggles understanding English. the two whispering kids at the back of the class seem so put-together, but are just hiding the hurt that comes from a terrible home life and a fighting family. the autistic guy in class that raises his hand every two seconds and disrupts the teacher is hoping for a fighting chance at real friendship; everyone averts their eyes when he walks by, but he is looking, searching, wanting someone to be real with him. the pretty girl with an array of different colored highlighters is hiding her worsening grades and her disinterested boyfriend. He says he's in love, but his actions speak otherwise.

This goes for real life too: because that homeless guy on the street corner is struggling with his life just as much as the corporate worker can't keep his life together at home. The two teenagers who just broke up a 3-year relationship are as devastated as the wife who just divorced her disinterested husband. They never thought this would happen to them. They just wanted someone to tell them that it's gonna be okay. "This wasn't supposed to happen to me."

Every brokenhearted person that rub shoulders with you today needs hope. Every seemingly happy CEO, every quiet book nerd, every ragged homeless man, every devastated teenage girl, every one you meet: tell them the story of hope. Smile, give a word of love, pray to the Creator that formed their heart, and then continue on your way. Spread that hope everywhere you go.

Don't fall into the rhythm: the quiet, repressive, orderly machine that every other American gets stuck in every day. Don't fall into the hopeless routine. Start anew. spread hope.

spread hope.

spread love.

There's a fight to be won
for the love you find at home
Work to be done
Before you rest your weary bones

I'm finding peace don't come
to everyone I know
So I will love in this life
Until I finally have to go.

Said I will love in this life,
Until I finally have to go.

(Run River North. "Growing Up.")