In September 2019, my divorce from my first wife was finalized. By November, I was engaged, and in January 2020, I married my second wife. I pursued this marriage without regard for its biblical implications, trying to escape a tidal wave of guilt and shame that eventually overwhelmed me.

I’ve come to realize that it’s not enough to simply recount the situations that led me astray. At the core, I committed adultery. Twice, I broke the sacred covenant of marriage, hurting the woman I vowed to protect and shaking the foundation of my children’s security. If I’m honest, the villain in my story is staring back at me in the mirror.

Yesterday, I spoke with a former colleague from the rescue mission, Adam Casey, who is still employed there. He's one of the most humorous people I know. Typically, our discussions brim with clever humor, but they can swiftly shift to profound theological insights we're exploring. At times, the tone becomes solemn when he shares about the individuals he's presently assisting. Our latest conversation was entirely somber.