Milo Found Redemption

I was making my usual rounds around The Next Door when Milo asked if I wanted to play a game of one-on-one. He suggested we go to 15, which I thought was way too many points for a one-on-one game, but I agreed anyway. Looking back, I’m really glad I did; that game gave us time to talk.

As with most games, I was talking with him while we played, offering encouragement and some light coaching. We kept it casual at first- talking about hobbies, sports, school, and everyday life. But somewhere along the way, between possessions and shots, the conversation changed.

Milo started to open up.

He didn’t go into every detail, but he shared enough to let me see more of his life. He talked about a time when he carried a lot of anger that clouded his judgment and led him to make decisions that weren’t loving toward himself or the people around him. Then he said something that stuck with me: he realized he didn’t want to live like that anymore.

He also recognized that even though the people in his life never stopped loving him, trust might need to be rebuilt. Hearing a young man take that kind of ownership caught me off guard. That level of self-awareness isn’t easy, especially at his age. I told him how much I respected that, because it takes strength to look at yourself honestly and admit where you could have done better.

As we kept playing, he shared what had been shaping that change in him. He talked about being plugged into a local church and youth group, where he’s been learning about God and how He offers second chances. Milo said that redemption didn’t stay a concept; it became personal. It started him on his own path toward living differently.

Now, Milo tries to live with honesty, not to check a box but because of what it adds to his relationships with friends, family, and God. By the end of the game, I was completely exhausted, but that conversation filled me up. It reminded me there is real hope for young people, and moments like that show why this work matters.

Denzel Samuel

Poulsbo Area Director

*The name of this student has been changed for privacy.