• His name was Amos Kingsley. He grew up an orphan in the foster care system. From place to place he went, living here, staying there, never feeling truly accepted. Amos broke every rule he could, at first to gain attention, but then simply because it was fun and felt good. By age sixteen, Amos had already been arrested multiple times. Pushing other children around on the playground escalated into forcing people around at knifepoint, requiring their money or their life. Vandalism, breaking and entering, robbery, defacement of city and private property, grand theft auto, physical assault, several fights, underage drinking, and finally at eighteen and a half, the rape and murder of a seventeen year old girl.
    While Amos was living his life in New York City, a young girl was growing up in a little place called Lake County. Her name was Addison Kingston. All throughout her childhood she was a “little angel”. Everyone knew her to be perfectly well-behaved, and respectful to all those around her. By age sixteen, she was a straight-A student, she never questioned authority, and she even went to church each Sunday (as she did since she was little). Addison had her whole life mapped out: she would go to college, meet a nice guy, get married (after she received a degree in social studies, of course), have maybe one or two children, get a job and hire a fulltime nanny, eventually after having had her fun, she did intend to retire and start a shelter for women, teens, and children in need.
    Amos sat at his sentencing hearing, “Have you reached a verdict?” he heard the judge question calmly, the juror, who then responds “We have, Your Honor.” Amos stood quietly at attention, and waited for the next few life changing words, “For the charge of one count of rape, how do you find?” the judge inquired. “We find the defendant, Amos Kingsley… guilty.” The head juror stated steadily. “For the charge of one count of first-degree manslaughter, how do you find?” the judge inquired one last time. “We find the defendant, Amos Kingsley… guilty.” Amos was somehow, somewhat surprised. “Amos Kingsley, you are hereby found guilty of the crimes you have been accused of against the state of New York. You are to serve your time behind bars, in a state facility, and you are sentenced to life without parole. Bailiff.”
    Her life went according to plan, she graduated high school with honors, she went to a renowned college, met a man and fell in love, she graduated, they got married, they had children, she worked fulltime, and they hired a live-in nanny. Everything seemed to be going well. Addison was considered an “accomplished” woman. The one thing Addison had really changed had been to work on Sundays. Over the years, she had begun to have less time for church, going fewer and fewer times a month… then a year… until finally; she hardly went on Christmas and Easter, if at all. She forgot almost completely about the God she claimed to have accepted when she was three years old. She had three children; two girls, and a boy. She barely ever saw them and hardly made time for her own husband; she had become nearly obsessed with her “work”.
    Sitting alone in a cold, dark cell would become quite lonely, but Amos much preferred his loneliness to sharing with another man. He was twenty years old by the time his trial and sentencing hearing was completed. Today he celebrates, alone, his thirty-third birthday. Prison is a rather depressing place, but over the years, Amos has been confronted by many evangelists that want to show him there is still hope. Mockery was generally his chosen form of retaliation… until the most recent evangelist. The man came to share at the prison, but instead of targeting a crowd, the stranger specifically asked for Amos. He requested that he have a word with him, alone. When Amos met with the gentleman, the man introduced himself as “Kleid Angler”. Mr. Angler began speaking with Mr. Kingsley about ordinary mundane tasks within the prison walls. Then, the conversation shifted. Kleid told his testimony to this convict, who was quite intrigued. Within his testimony, he mentioned his best friend that was raped and murdered some odd fourteen and a half years previously, and then he told how God used that experience to reach him and help him witness to others. Mr. Angler continued with his testimony and explained that God loves and will forgive anyone that asks His forgiveness. Amos had never before had someone try so adamantly to make him understand anything, especially not something like the fact that it is possible for a sinner like him to be forgiven, accepted, and loved.
    Her children seem to be growing up faster by the minute. Her husband has become more distant, yet she does not even fully notice. Her oldest daughter is now a teenager, and with no discussions or instructions from her maternal figure about relationships, or anything similar, she has already given her virginity away willingly to the first guy she dated. Her son (the middle child) is now fifteen years old and has already gotten involved with some drugs that were being passed around his school. Her youngest daughter is now eleven, and before she had even entered the first grade, she had already played “doctor” and her and her friends surveyed each other’s parts. She will have officially lost her virginity by age thirteen. Addison’s husband began looking for satisfaction elsewhere when she made him move to the couch for sake of her “early morning” the next day, which has lasted many-a-day longer than just that “one” morning. Her whole world has already fallen to pieces and she is completely unaware.
    Since his conversation with Mr. Angler, Amos has felt something he had never felt before; serenity… but with a certain eagerness and curiosity attached. With the bible given to him by Kleid, Mr. Kingsley has been able to search the scriptures daily to learn more about his new Lord and Savior. After several years of doing almost nothing aside from reading and studying the word of his King, Amos had an understanding of the Word that many people could not acquire over multiple lifetimes. Mr. Kingsley had confessed his sins to God officially, the day he met Kleid, and he has repented for them every day of his life since. He cannot possibly be any more apologetic than he already is. Though he has gained almost a full peace, it is not enough for him. So he prays and fasts for several weeks until he has all the words he needs. Amos writes a letter to the family of the dead seventeen year old, explaining all that had happened within the last few years. Every change Christ has made in him, and every way he wishes he could take back the horrible things he did to that poor, innocent, and precious young girl. Every word he writes holds the sincerity and weight of ten thousand words, with twice their meaning, seriousness, kindness, love, and purity of heart.
    “Late nights at the office” her husband now claims, and she does not mind. In fact, she could not be much happier. With her spouse away and her children asleep, she has more hours to quietly focus on her work, and even sleep. After a couple weeks of his behavior, however, Addison’s children find a way to inform her that it is rather unusual for her man to work so very long each day. She begins to notice a smile on his face that has long since been forgotten. This makes her curious. When confronted, her husband merely states that he wants a divorce and sole custody of his children. Addison is entirely blindsided by this, she does not know what to do. She says not another word; she simply walks away and finds a secluded area inside her house. Now alone, she begins screaming and cursing at God, questioning why he would do this and how he can “let” this happen. It does not even occur to her that she had abandoned God many years before; that she had walked away from Him and not invited Him to participate further in her life, and the lives of her family members. After screaming at the heavens and making all kinds of threats toward god, she finally just decides “God is not real”.
    The parents (that have lived their lives since their daughter’s death with still much grief) cannot believe what they are reading, when they receive Amos’ letter. They have been struggling especially over the few months previous to receiving the letter. Shortly after the death of the seventeen year old, her parents began praying for the salvation of her murderer each day, and did not cease until about fourteen and a half years later. As they are reading the letter that informs them of the exact date that he came to Christ, the man and woman begin to cry and thank God for this incredulous miracle. The exact day they said their last prayer for that man, was the exact day God did a work in him that changed him forever.
    Addison, she used to be so naïve, so innocent, so pure, and everything she did seemed so good. Now her life has spiraled into a pitch-black abyss. The divorce is now finalized; she is once again Addison Kingston. Her children are given almost solely to her (now) ex-husband, she is allowed to see them once a week, but of course is still too busy. She is kicked out of her house (for no longer does it belong to her), she quits her job, and runs away. She leaves the state she has lived in since she left Lake County all those years ago, and moves to Maine. Drugs, alcohol, tobacco, self-loathing, confusion… all of these things became her everyday life. She lost all contact with her family and realized that it is hardly any different now than when they were all still together.
    Amos did not ask forgiveness of the couple in his letter; he felt that there was no way they could ever forgive his actions. It is now ten days after he sent his letter, it is visitor day, and to the shock and awe of Mr. Kingsley, he has two visitors. He sits waiting, and tears fill his eyes when through the door walk two faces he has not seen since the day he was sentenced to life behind bars. After twenty-three years, they have become greyer, but they still have the tender facial expressions they held all those years ago, during trial. The family sits with Amos and explains their side of everything that has happened over the years. They tell him that they had “forgiven” him long ago, but that now they truly forgive him. They pray together, and stay the length of time allotted by the prison.
    Broken, alone, and hating every living thing. Addison lives on the streets now and eats only when people give her food, or she finds something in trashcans or dumpsters. Every time she sees someone walk by with a smiling face, she glares and it makes her resent human beings and life ever more greatly. She sometimes wonders how her now grown children are doing, but the thought of their wellbeing is merely a thought in the back of her head and dissipates almost immediately. The semi good thoughts are replaced with more and more selfish thoughts, as she reminisces and ponders what could have happened had she never married the man she blames for her downfall. Not one second of her time or thoughts is ever focused on what she could have done differently, done better. Not a single moment does she consider apologizing to her offspring, for in her mind, she is in no way at fault.
    Every week since the initial visit, the family makes it possible to spend time with Amos; they love him now as their own and have practically adopted him into their family. They keep each other strong, encouraged, and fully in love with God. Many, many years have passed this way, Amos finally has a family. Unfortunately, as all things (good and bad alike) must come to an end, each person has begun dying. Not all at once, but the destination is the same. The first to depart this earth, is Mr. Amos Kingsley, he dies peacefully in his sleep, bible in hand and a smile upon his face. The elderly couple is for a short time saddened by this, but they are very grateful that Amos is able to go home, to heaven, to be with his Lord, Jesus.
    Each year, then each month, then week, and finally each day become more and more difficult for Addison to even stay alive. And all at once, it is no longer difficult. She overdoses on her I.V. drugs, and freezes to death on the street, a grueling expression on her face, and a much hotter destination remaining. Miss Addison Kingston does not join Christ in heaven; she instead will go to the place most generally referred to as “hell”.

    The reason for these comparisons (that I hope has been made quite evident), is this:
    It does not matter how you start your journey, it does not even matter what you have done in the past, it does matter, however, what path you choose for your life’s travels from this point onward. Leave your past where it is at; do not continue dragging it along with you. Do not let your past dictate, neither define your future. Every person is made beautiful, in God’s image, but He gives you the choice of what you will do with your body, and your life. Choose well, for your final destination is up to YOU.