A Gift for Himself

It was strange that my friend invited me to his new home today out of all days. Especially after what happened three years ago. That was not a moment I want to remember. A dark and ugly scene of…


Into the Snare

Psalm 66 "...You led us, God, into the snare..."  What? Why would God lead us into a snare? That sounds cruel! Not like the behavior of a supposedly loving, concerned Father.  I'm not sure I can love…


The Chaste Man Loves Differently

He does not see humans as objects…but as children of God. Others sense his pure motivations. Old and young, men and women; all feel secure in his presence. He does not seek his own gain.   He loves…


Little Miracle

I am 24 years old now. I was born with congenital heart disease, which led to my three open heart surgeries - at 13 days old, 2 years old, and 13 years old. The trauma resulted in childhood seizures…


Cultivation

My tastes, habits, and desires are almost all cultivated. Whatever I tend in the field of my life is what will grow strongest and remain hardy even in times of drought. I regularly cultivate two…


Musings on Same-Sex Attraction from Across the North Atlantic Swells - Part 2

This is the conclusion of a two-part entry written by “Patrick Fitz”, an anonymous member of Courage International. Read Part 1 here. I found myself living with my aging and increasingly more fragile…


Musings on Same-Sex Attraction from Across the North Atlantic Swells - Part 1

This is the first of a two-part entry written by “Patrick Fitz”, an anonymous member of Courage International.  I once heard Mother Angelica say that if you didn't experience a certain degree of…


What Have I Received from Encourage?

A place to tell our story – When a family member first comes to our Encourage group, he or she is given as much time as needed to tell their story. In my case, I probably spent an hour or more on the…


7 Characteristics of Authentic Male Friendship - Part Four

The following piece is written by “Elliot N”, an anonymous member of Courage International. This is the fourth and final part of a series on the topic of authentic male friendship. Read Part 1, Part…


7 Characteristics of Authentic Male Friendship - Part Three

The following piece is written by "Elliot N", an anonymous member of Courage International. This is the third of a four-part series on the topic of authentic male friendship. Read Part 1 and Part 2.…