Do you remember what it felt like to be completely free? To live without shame, fear, or striving—when imagination ran wild and every day was full of wonder? We do.
I (Steve) can still see myself at eight years old, ruling the backyard as a cardboard-armored knight, conquering invisible foes and rescuing fair maidens (usually the girl next door shaking out her mop). Life was simple then. Not perfect—but free. No performance, no pressure. Just joy.
Colleen remembers being a bundle of affection in her rhumba pajamas, dancing through the living room, captivating every guest with her energy and innocence. She especially loved Ms. Pat, who called her “Sophie” and told her she was God’s favorite. There was a security in those words. A grounding in love.
But like all of us, we grew up. The battle began. Not just with middle school or expectations or heartbreak—but with the deeper question: Who am I? And do I have what it takes?
For me, the answer seemed to be no. For Colleen, the delight of her younger self faded behind performance and pain. And like many of you, we tried to outrun the wounds—until we couldn’t.
But here’s the truth: God never stopped pursuing that little boy or that little girl. And He hasn’t stopped pursuing you.
Fast forward 50 years, and we’re walking into a county jail, offering a message of identity and healing to men who’ve experienced rejection and pain in spades. One man, Bill, came because religion had “worked for him once.” But what he found wasn’t religion—it was relationship. A relationship with Jesus, who restores innocence and invites us into a freedom deeper than any childhood dream.
That day, as Bill handed over the reins of his life to Jesus, something holy happened. Silence. Peace. Shalom. The presence of God filled that jail room like a whisper of Eden.
We share this because it’s what Embracing the Way is all about: returning to the God who made you, healing the wounds that shaped you, and recovering the joy of who you were always meant to be.
The way back is the way forward.
The Way is Jesus.
Let’s walk it together.
And that’s the mid-week memo.
Steve
