GROWING UP JASON ~ Origins (Patreon)

I was born on November 16, 1996, to Dave and Marsha Keller. I have a sister, Lydia, who was born May 22, 1993.

When I was born, my father was a pastor in Indianapolis and my mom worked part-time at the church office. Honestly, nothing unexpected happened in my early years. We lived as you'd expect for a pastor’s family.

I’d say the first defining moment for me occurred in 2009 when I was twelve. I was in seventh grade, and the youth group went to a large youth conference. The focus was on living a life set apart from worldly things.

“Do not conform to this world, but be transformed…”

That paraphrase encapsulates the idea I took away from the conference. At the age of twelve, to the full extent of my ability to do so, I embraced a concept—a big idea that I barely understood—one that would shape me and guide my actions from that day on.

In my pubescent mind, I decided I’d live a life of purity, honesty, integrity, and kindness. I rejected the “ways of the world” that, at the time, I barely understood.

I also understood that saying you believe something is easy. Living like you believe it requires continuous, intentional effort. And I committed to doing whatever was required.That decision in 2009 set my life on a course I later defined as standing up for purity, integrity, and kindness. I went all-in, no looking back, no second guesses. I believe I am a better person for adhering to my commitment.

Yet, living that way did not come without conflicts. Peers scoffed or scorned my choices at times. And a decade after that youth conference, reconciling my commitment with what was happening around me became, I’ll admit, an obstacle in my relationship with Ailana.

A deep look at that will follow after a look at my high school years. For now, I’ll close this chapter.

Be your best you!

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All characters in this story are fictional characters, their images generated with AI for AGI Stories. They do not represent any real person, nor is their appearance based on any real human.

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