Dear Friends,
It has been so long since I last joined you all and shared my long musings in the blogosphere. I do apologize. It's just that it seemed like I had nothing to share except weariness and disappointment, and who wants to listen to that? I get annoyed enough by listening to my own voice in my own head, so why in the world should I express it out loud? Additionally, there are times when I don't feel like writing a long blog post...shocker, I know! And if I don't write a long post, doesn't this go against the essence of my blog?
Oh well. No matter. It'll be a short one today. And maybe in the days to come. I just wanted to share with you all that I found out a few days ago that one of my favorite Christian artists, Ray Boltz, came out as a gay man. Actually, I think I heard about his reconciliation with himself on the one-year anniversary of the year a gay friend of mine committed suicide. Having all of this come together makes me think yet again about how the church and Christians in general have so vilely treated people who identify themselves as LGBT.
How dare we?! I won't go into all my indignation now (for then this would be a long blog post), but I will say this: as someone who has spent much of her life "on the outside" because of her disability, I REFUSE to discriminate against/mistreat/fail to love fully my LGBT friends. I have been abused because of something I have no control over, and I believe that my gay friends (most of whom are Christians), have no control over their sexual orientation as well. Again, if I went into all my rationale behind this statement, it would be a long post. Someday, my friends, you'll hear my musings on this. Until then, read this: http://www.thegavoice.com/index.php/aae/38-feature/1507-swilleys-story-a-gay-pastor-his-wife-and-a-deeper-ministry. It's very close to what I think.
LET'S STOP BEATING EACH OTHER UP FOR THE WAY GOD MADE US!
No, I don't have it all figured out. No, I don't know how exactly to give people who are gay equal rights. But I know it needs to be done. The ADA tried offering me equal rights, but as much as a law can say certain things need to be done, it cannot change people's hearts. And that's really where the rubber hits the road. Hearts need to be changed in order to truly view gay people as created by God in a certain way, and loved by the Master of the Universe exactly how they are.
God loves me despite all my flaws. The least I can do is love people unreservedly in the same way. To all my friends, LGBT and otherwise, I love you. Thanks for loving me in all of my messy, cerebral palsied self. I hope I love you the same way. And if I don't...hit me.
And if you're interested, here's the link to Carol's (Ray's ex-wife) blog: http://myheartgoesout-carol.blogspot.com. Enjoy!
Incidentally, this full acceptance and love of all those who are LGBT fits nicely into the Church of my Imagination. Maybe I'll get to that blog post(s) in the next year or so yet.
