Recently, I spoke to a group of middle school students and told them that from this day forward, they are no longer victims.

I told them that whatever color you are, whether you are poor or handicapped, you are good enough.

I am very aware that at times you have been victimized, and for that I am sorry. However, that doesn’t make you a victim.

During the course of my presentation, I told them about my first honest prayer.

I remember that day like it was yesterday. The sun was setting, and the sky was slipping into darkness, just like my life. I pulled my car over by the side of the road and said, “God, if you don’t help me, you’re going to lose me.”

It was at that exact moment that I stopped negotiating with God and started praying to God. I became painfully aware that everything had fallen apart, and that all my plotting and planning had gotten me to this point. And I needed help.

What I really wanted was to see God’s love in action. But what I really needed was to feel his love. What I saw was a life that had hit rock bottom, all because I let my ego get the best of me. It never occurred to me to ask God for anything. I was busy doing whatever I wanted to do, and God wasn’t part of the equation.

Eventually, I had to confront the man in the mirror. What I saw was a person lacking in gratitude, character and love. I wish I could tell you that I had an “Oprah moment,” but I didn’t. What I did learn was about humiliation and humility. St. Augusta defined humility as the ability to be teachable. At that moment, I was willing to be taught anything.

I didn’t know then that the real journey had just begun. It seemed in the rebuilding phase of my life that every step of the way, I would be reminded that his answer was yes. I was one of those persons who felt unworthy of God’s love — or anyone else’s, for that matter.

I would mouth the words about God’s love, knowing secretly that his love was intended for everyone but me. Every step of the way, I dare not believe — I could not believe — that he said yes.

I took one day at a time, one breath at a time. I looked for affirmation in your eyes until I could see it in my eyes. I learned that God seems to use those people at the bottom of the barrel — the people down on their luck, the kind of person that you look away from, secretly judging and wondering what their problem is. I think he chose those people to show his love and to demonstrate his grace. I came to believe that God loves you just the way you are, but he also loves you enough not to leave you that way.

There are so many things wrong in this world: War, poverty, evil. All this is true. But what is not wrong in this life is you.

During my presentation to those students, I looked across the room: Some kids in tears, some asleep. I told them that I wish I could grab all of them and tell them “I love you.”

However, what I can tell you is that at one time, I was a broken man. Even now, when I occasionally feel that way, there is one particular part that still fits perfectly — and that is God’s love. There is nothing wrong with you that can’t be cured by everything that is right in you. No excuses.