By Lois Hewitt

Out of the sleep I have come!  At 16 years old I asked Jesus into my life. But even at that young age I was steeped in sin.  I dabbled at being a Christian for decades. I am thankful I learned a lot along the way but I still hung tightly to my sins.  I lived in the dark with hope that Jesus could not see me.

I loved the world and had many idols. I drank and smoked and swore and indulged in an array of addictions. I was spiritually asleep.

Then not long ago a switch flipped inside of me. I could now see the world around me, not just the illusion I saw before and, more importantly, I saw myself.  Not in my usual light of justification and rationalization.  I saw my sin and had to change.

It is amazing how different my life is now. Do I still sin? Yes and I always will while I walk this earth.  But one day when I meet Jesus all that will change.  Until then I am trying to be His disciple. 

I see the number of friends I have here decease almost daily. I understand. The message of Jesus is hard to hear because it calls for accountability and responsibility. It counters the “if it feels good, do it” mantra we have heard since the 1960s.  But the message is life changing and I cannot be silent.

If you unfriend or hide my posts, I understand. I want to encourage those who need it.  I want to show the fallen that they can still get back up.  I understand sin much more than I’m comfortable with. So if I’m “too much” now, I understand. I will still pray for you even if you do not want me to.

I have woken from my decades long slumber. I have such a small voice in this world and I have no platform except this, so I will keep shouting of the goodness of Jesus as long as I have one friend left.

Out of the sleep I have come and oh how joyous it is.