Day 83

"Hate doesn't win until love no longer has a voice." ~Dan Pearce, Single Dad Laughing

#np - Beautiful by Christina Aguilera

The other day my friend, Karyn, posted a link to an article written by Dan Pearce of Single Dad Laughing. Dan writes a Christian blog and his topic a couple of weeks ago about being a Christian except when faced with someone who is gay.  He talks of people walking with Christ except when confronted by obvious sinners.  When faced with these obvious sinners, some Christians (not all as I know MANY who love unconditionally) take it upon themselves to judge and hate these brethren.

I struggle with faith.  I have for a long time.  Some of my struggle stems from a time when my brother came out to me.  I suddenly couldn't reconcile a loving God with one who hates homosexuals.  And so, because my brother is quite simply the light of my life, I chose to love him unconditionally.  And in that, my faith has wavered.  Perhaps not from God but definitely from church.  And that's why I found this blog post to be so moving.  Here was a man, a single father, a Christian, explaining that God said to "love one another." Period.  Dan also posted a few of the responses he received from the comments section of the post.  Two are absolutely heartbreaking.  The intolerance in their vitriol would be unbelievable if it weren't so prevalent in society.  But the last five responses were those of hope and love.  The exact teachings of Christ and God.

This blog hasn't made me want to go back to church.  But it has renewed my faith in people.  We all have things we feel insecure about.  For example, my weight has always been an area of deep insecurity for me but even that's not the same as being judged for being gay - as if something is wrong with you even though you're being exactly who you are.  And to think that my brother, an absolute wonder to our family, could be walking around with this hatred on his back...well, that is unacceptable.  It's unacceptable for him and others like him, gay or not, to feel the hatred of others.  

Allow me to take this opportunity to let everyone know that I love you.  There are lots of movements like "It Gets Better" or organizations like The Trevor Project aimed at showing acceptance and love.  But I'm not sure the message is getting out there enough.  I love you and I celebrate you, just as you are.