Introducing Hunter Sharpless

In a conservative city, with safety all around me, I grew up in a world absent of conflict like divorce, a close death or sickness of a friend; I did well in school without trying too hard, performed well in athletics, didn't drink or smoke pot or shoot heroine, went to church on my own accord—Dallas, Texas, a private school and a good family.

When you grow up like this, and you are wired introspectively like I am, high school becomes a time of self-examination, self-searching, and self-critique. WIthout any terribly external conflict, I turned inward and found conflict in my own heart. I wouldn't say I grew up quickly, or matured quickly, but I would say, without a doubt, that I came to know myself quickly, more quickly than others.

But I don't want to spend my time here, so I will say only a little about high school—it was a time of great growth in my faith and many poor, sinful decisions. It was a time spent focusing on that sin, dwelling on it, not forgiving myself of it, which led to depression—an awful thing for a person to go through who has as many deep emotions as I do.

Since graduation, though, in May 2008, several decisions and several experiences has drastically changed me into who I am now—into the man I am now, an entirely different being than the boy named Hunter in high school. Those decisions and experiences are listed below, and will be discussed in the shortly forthcoming posts—

—Realizing Jesus: Humble Wisdom
—Love Through Fire: Nigeria
—Alone in the Heartland: Iowa City
—Follow: Forgiving Myself
—Arrogance Crumbling: Pine Cove
—On the Road: The Best Band in the World
—Failure, Success: I Am Not Alone

With love,
h