I was homeless. I was abandoned. I was a drug dealer. I was a liar. I was a cheater. I was a convicted felon. I was a drug addict. I was a sex addict. I was a thief. I was a coward. I was an absentee father. I was an imperfect husband. I was Karma. But now: I am a writer. I am a filmmaker. I am a scholar. I am an investor. I am baptized. I am an inspiration. I am saved. I am anointed. I am God's most precious belonging. If you were to ask me if I were any of these labels, the truthful answer would be yes. But before I was any of these things, I was just the boy sleeping in the jungle gym.