I Know That You're Afraid. . . . .

I know that you're afraid of me. . . . I know that you're afraid of me because I'm a woman or because I'm an atheist or because I was born in America.  I know that you're afraid of me because you don't know me.  I know that I am the "they" that "they" have warned you about.  I know that that fear has been bred into from the day that you were born into that family, that village, that world that tells you what to fear and what to welcome.  I know that you, the real YOU, that deep down part of all of us that is simply human, doesn't really want to fear me, is only curious about who and what I am.  I know that you're tired of being afraid.  I know that that fear, in and of itself, is what drains you, depletes you, hurts you.  I know that you don't know any other way to be, feel, exist.  I know that that fear can drive you.  I know that it can push you into feeling, doing, saying, being something that you're really not.  I know that you want to hurt someone.  I know that you want to hurt someone, anyone, to make that fear stop.  I also know that no matter how many people you hurt, that fear will only grow. . . .deepen. . . .SEEM MORE REAL to you.  It will grow inside of you, hidden.  Like a cancer it will eat away at your soul.  If you feed it it WILL grow.  It will become you, take over your mind, your spirit, your thoughts until nothing else exists BUT that fear.  I know that you're afraid of me.  I know that what I represent, means the end of what you represent.  Or, at least, that's what "they've" told you.  I know that that fear has convinced you that, simply by my existing, I'm threatening your way of life.  I'm threatening your actual life.  I'm threatening your children's lives and their children's lives and so on and so on, until, you feel so justified in hurting me that there simply is no. other. way.  Yes, I know that you're afraid.

But, I suggest something radical to you. . . . .talk to me.  Learn my name.  Try hard to pronounce it properly.  Look into my eyes.  See me smile.  Listen to my breath.  Watch me love my children.  Listen to my struggles to provide a loving home for them.  Come to my place of work and watch me excel in my life.  My actual life.  Not the one that has been presented to you.  Not the one that "they've" told you I lead, but, my real "day in, day out" living life.  I know that you're afraid.  But, could you "take the risk" and try, just for a moment, to let the fear go?  Can you leave it at the door?  My door?  And walk into a life that looks, shockingly, similar to your own?  Listen to it.  Smell it.  Taste it.  Savor it.  Hell, maybe even ENJOY IT!

Yes, I know that you're afraid and that the world is telling me that I should be afraid, too. . . . but, today. . . . . .I AM NOT AFRAID!

Take a deep breath. . . .it's just another day in Perfect!