Living On The Edge Again (Part 4)
I remember growing up during the hippy movement. There was always a band of long haired types hanging out somewhere. My father always spoke in a very derogatory way about their long greasy hair and unwashed bodies. I remember hearing them one day inviting others to join them in worshipping Christ. I can still hear that voice in my head saying that they had done so many drugs that they had wasted their brains and grabbed onto the last thing that made sense to them, religion. I felt sorry for them for wasting their short lives and knew that I was better because I had not chosen that path. Now I realize that it was my father’s voice that I was hearing through his constant comments about the youth culture of the time.
I had two experiences in the last several days that prompted me to take up this topic. Several months ago, my cousin told us that she was gay. Growing up we were never close, (my father hated her father) but as an adult, I have come to have a loving relationship with her. As an adult, she has had a series of unconnected incidents happen to her that would have jaded many people. Through out that time, she has maintained a happy outward disposition but it masked the sadness underneath. She has finally found someone that makes her happy, keeps her focused, and puts up with her crap. For the first time, I have seen her happy with her life and looking toward the future. We spent last Saturday with my cousin and her friend, walking though the model house they are building and breaking bread together. It was very fun and I look forward to getting together over the holidays if not sooner. Unfortunately, her parents have disowned her due to her relationship. This has been the toughest part. I see someone who is happy. They see a daughter who has let them down. What is even more unfortunate is they blame her partner for “converting her”.
The other experience is from the person that introduced me to blogging. He is the Ragarambler and a friend from my formidable teenage years. I remember the first time I met him. He came to my house as part of an interview process before I joined a youth group called DeMolay. He was very animated and a great story teller. When he found out that my father was an avid hunter, he told his story about his first deer hunting trip in up state New York. I can still see him as he described shooting a deer for the first time. He posted a blog entry last week and announced that he was gay. It did not surprise me. Many of the posts on his blog preached of tolerance for people that were different. He always approached it from avenue of the 12 step program (he is a recovering alcoholic) but you could feel the emotions underneath of what he was saying. His blog expressed concern for those who would think less of him when they found out that he was not the heterosexual male he had masked himself to be.
This is the third part of my religious scripture foundation.
Luke 6:37
Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
One of my biggest failures as a Christian is that I find this a very difficult scripture to follow. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged. As a Christian, it is not for me to look at someone and pronounce them unworthy. Who am I? When you are facing God on the Day of Judgment, it will be Him that pronounces your worthiness. Only God has the authority to say yea or nay. As humans, we are sinners and not worthy of the glory of Heaven except through the Son. Since God gave his Son to be the lamb of sacrifice for our sins, God also gave him the authority to command us on how to live our lives. That commandment is to love one another as Jesus loved us. He also told us not to judge one another. That is His job.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 15:12
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Icool
Cobb
I had two experiences in the last several days that prompted me to take up this topic. Several months ago, my cousin told us that she was gay. Growing up we were never close, (my father hated her father) but as an adult, I have come to have a loving relationship with her. As an adult, she has had a series of unconnected incidents happen to her that would have jaded many people. Through out that time, she has maintained a happy outward disposition but it masked the sadness underneath. She has finally found someone that makes her happy, keeps her focused, and puts up with her crap. For the first time, I have seen her happy with her life and looking toward the future. We spent last Saturday with my cousin and her friend, walking though the model house they are building and breaking bread together. It was very fun and I look forward to getting together over the holidays if not sooner. Unfortunately, her parents have disowned her due to her relationship. This has been the toughest part. I see someone who is happy. They see a daughter who has let them down. What is even more unfortunate is they blame her partner for “converting her”.
The other experience is from the person that introduced me to blogging. He is the Ragarambler and a friend from my formidable teenage years. I remember the first time I met him. He came to my house as part of an interview process before I joined a youth group called DeMolay. He was very animated and a great story teller. When he found out that my father was an avid hunter, he told his story about his first deer hunting trip in up state New York. I can still see him as he described shooting a deer for the first time. He posted a blog entry last week and announced that he was gay. It did not surprise me. Many of the posts on his blog preached of tolerance for people that were different. He always approached it from avenue of the 12 step program (he is a recovering alcoholic) but you could feel the emotions underneath of what he was saying. His blog expressed concern for those who would think less of him when they found out that he was not the heterosexual male he had masked himself to be.
This is the third part of my religious scripture foundation.
Luke 6:37
Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
One of my biggest failures as a Christian is that I find this a very difficult scripture to follow. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged. As a Christian, it is not for me to look at someone and pronounce them unworthy. Who am I? When you are facing God on the Day of Judgment, it will be Him that pronounces your worthiness. Only God has the authority to say yea or nay. As humans, we are sinners and not worthy of the glory of Heaven except through the Son. Since God gave his Son to be the lamb of sacrifice for our sins, God also gave him the authority to command us on how to live our lives. That commandment is to love one another as Jesus loved us. He also told us not to judge one another. That is His job.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 15:12
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Icool
Cobb
posted by Cobb at
8:05 AM
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