befallen

random complaint: coffee shops close at 7, 7:30 here. why? WHY? and yes, that includes starbucks... if you're lucky, 8:30... i'm done.

random encouragement: remember the stars.
in dark hours, in scary moments, in strange places, its so easy to feel alone... the thoughts in your head turn into torturing voices that remind you of everything that you don't like about yourself, whether you are envisioning them or they are true... to isolate you even more, convince you that you are not them, they are not you, and no one will understand you, and no one cares...
a long, long time ago, a similarly self-deceived being convinced himself that he was not like the others, he should not be treated like the others, and wanted everything for himself... others followed his rebellion but the power, glory, reward was all his... he was defeated, did not win his prize, and was shunned for eternity... God created Lucifer as an angel, designed to be God's messengers, servants, worshipers... he was cast out, spit out of God's presence for all time...
in the times when you feel no love, no compassion, no understanding, slap the voices in your head, as difficult as it may be... satan is lonely... he is banned from the source of all that is good and the source of love forever, and he wants company... he wants you... loneliness is one way to bring you closer...
we are not his... we will never feel his abyssmal loneliness... God turned his back on Lucifer... He also turned his back on Jesus -- so that he will never turn his back on the believers...
loneliness will not fill a God-shaped hole... don't be afraid to find the only healing source
"...I am with you always, to the very end of the age..." - Jesus, Matthew 28:20

you may not always feel him. or see him. or like him. but he's there... even if he's shining behind the clouds. around the world. sparkling.