Gabriel sighed and closed his eyes again. He wished he had answers. But he had none. He did not understand why... some people struggled with these feelings. Nor did he know how they could be dealt with.

"You mustn't be so hard on yourself.... Living a holy life is not about being free from temptation. It is about having the courage to face it, even if you have to face it every day. And when you fall, you ask God for forgiveness and try again. Even if you sin every day, every minute of the day, if you keep asking forgiveness and keep trying, that is still a holy life. You are not cursed. You are loved."

Love. Wasn't every heart craving for that love, that Gabriel believed finally only God could give? All their lonely hearts. He put his hand against the wood again. He wished he could make the suffering man feel loved.