I am definitely not a Christian. I'm gay, and tomboyish, and I ride those dangerous motorcycles your mother warned you not to go near. When I think about it, Chantel and I really have nothing in common. Except that we are both somewhat impulsive, very curious, with a great deal of respect for spontaneity and creativity. Chantel and I enjoy individuality: those quirks that make people unique. Those strange mindsets that people have. Things we've never seen. We like meeting new people, learning new things. I like meeting people who can teach me things. When they run out of things to say, I don't spend so much time with them, I meet someone else. But Chantel and I have been friends for years because she is constantly changing. She keeps me on my toes and I think that's one of the best things about her. Other things too: she can be very sweet, and intelligent, and energetic. She understands things very quickly, and I should say that she knows me very well, occasionally better than I know myself.

And there are things about her that I won't pretend to understand: her life-mission for God, for instance. She has a passion for the Christian faith which I reserve for motorcycles; and maybe neither of us will ever understand the other's side of the story. But I think that if every Christian missionary could be as respectful to my lifestyle as she has been to mine, then the Churches would fare very well, for there are a great many people out there who are turned aside for small differences.

-Shannon