How many times have I laid my head on my pillow and think I'm garbage, horrible, stupid. How many times have I either ended or started a day thinking I'm junk. Everyday life tries to sell us this lie that we are junk... that we are worthless. Sometimes the salesman is pretty good and we buy into it. And when that moment comes the lie becomes truth to us. We load on bag after bag of baggage which carries every stupid little detail that we either hide or idolize. We tend to think only sin sticks to us but even sinless pain can find its way on our backs. A harsh word from a stranger, coworker, friend, family can latch itself on our shoulders and make itself at home. We stand there holding baggage of the moment, day, month, year, lifetime while being sold the lie that we are garbage. And sometimes we are just so darn tired that the lie just sounds so true.

This boy puts his hands on his knees breathing heavily, trying desperately to catch his breath. he takes quick shallow breaths over and over trying not to finally fall to his knees. He closes his eyes as the sweat slides off his forehead. His hair feels like a wool blanket wrapped around his head only making him hotter. His clothes feel like they have just come fresh out of the dryer but a bit to soon, a little damp but still so very hot. He looks up at his goal just out of arms reach. He had been running so diligently for so long after this thing. He smiles knowing of corse that even through the sweat and maybe a few secret tears the chase has been well worth even being this close. But that smiles fades gently the more he realizes that the distance he runs doesn't really close, but strangely stays the same. He fears that as he slides his head down when reaching the limits of his strength while he runs, the thing slyly slides just a bit further away, being very careful to stay just far enough away.