This shouldn’t have to be stated, but unfortunately it does. Transgender people are not a caricature. They are not a stereotype. They are not a political pawn. And they are not a threat to you or your values. They are human. Just. Like. You.

Imagine feeling homesick in your own body. Imagine having to fight for your God-given right to be who you are and be treated with dignity. Imagine walking into a restaurant with fear about whether you will be served. Imagine holding your pee as long as possible, or running home to use the bathroom, because you don’t know if you will be violently attacked for doing the extremely human function of relieving yourself. Imagine not being able to get lifesaving medical care because a doctor refuses to touch you. Imagine believing that if you live as your authentic self, you will never be able to realize your dreams.

Do you ever feel like your drowning, and you can't quite make it up for air? Me too. In fact, the last year and a half has been that feeling on repeat. Every time I managed to get my head above the water, something else would pull me down again. 

That's why I'm so grateful for the grace of the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Steve Austin's new book Catching Your Breath: The Sacred Journey From Chaos to Calm. Y'all I am not exaggerating when I say the raw honesty and practical real life solutions in this book touched my soul in a deep and unexpected way. Steve gets it. I'm not alone. And neither are you. 

What do you think of when you think of God? Where does your impression of God come from? Is He angry? Loving? Jealous? Mean? Kind? Waiting to strike you with lightning or toss you into a terrible place of eternal conscious torment if you don’t pray a get out of Hell free prayer to His Son? 

How do you know? How does your view of God affect your life? The lives of those around you?