“The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:31

Dear Neighbor,

I love you. We are commanded to love our neighbor. This commandment has no limitations. I love you no matter your race. No matter your gender. No matter your religion, your political beliefs, your social status, your tax bracket, your morals. Regardless of your color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age or sexual orientation. You could say I am an equal opportunity lover. Even if we disagree about many things, even if I don’t like you some of the time. I love you because you are human and you are as God made you. I love my homeless neighbors, my addicted neighbors, my Muslim neighbors, my Atheist neighbors, my criminal neighbors, my homosexual neighbors, my black, white, brown, red, purple…

I was working a lesson in the writing class I’m taking and I had a moment. You know, one of those breakthrough moments. I was making a mind map about why I want to write. I came up with many things that surprised me but one in particular struck me.

I wanted to be able to justify my weird. I’ve been odd my entire life. I’ve always seen things just a little differently than the people around me. I over-analyze everything (I don’t advise this). I add theme songs to daydreams. I bring up books constantly as examples of…well everything.

I often came across as distant. I wasn’t really, but when you’re in the middle of making up a cool fight scene it’s a little difficult to give others your full attention. I’ve lived more in my head a good portion of the time.

I was/am one of those types…