Based on Matthew 13: 53-58
I would like to begin this blog today reusing a quote from Bishop Gene Robinson's book: "In the Eye of the Storm". "...that's just the way it is with the Spirit. It's that part of God that refuses to be contained in the little boxes we create for God to live in, safely confined to the careful boundaries we set for God's Spirit. The problem is--the miracle is--God just won't stay put. And God won't let you and me stay put, content to believe what we've always believed, what we've always been taught, what we've always assumed. Change isn't just something to be wished on our enemies--but something God requires of us as well." (Page 9,10).
I have to tell you, I hate change. Change is something that can make me angry. In fact, I am probably one of the worst rebels against change. You might never believe that with the blogs I write. However, I grew up in a small New England family, part of two larger New England families with their backgrounds in the English Anglo-Saxon/Italian mind set. We can be petty, selfish, stubborn and like many good English folk we always think we are right. This was never more true than when the local Catholic Priest who had been Pastor for 17 years with two other assistants retired, and out went one of the other two. A new Priest came who was warm, inviting and just full of life and energy, along with one of the other assistants still left. During that year, all year long, the new Priest and myself his new organist heard time and again: "Why can't things go back to the way they were?" They could not get it through their mind that a new man had come to town. The new Pastor had new ways, a whole different approach to doing things. It was no picnic for anyone.
When Jesus came back to his home town of Nazareth with the new message of God's salvation, he too got a response that was less than welcoming. People had their preconceived notions about Jesus, based on his father's occupation, his mother, brothers and sisters. In the mind of the people of Jesus' town he was just too different that what they were used to. And due to their closed hearts and minds, God could not work in their midst.
Today is the day after the election process. I like many LGBT individuals am deeply disappointed at the ballot decision on the Ballot Referendum in the State of Maine. The State legislator with the Governor passed a law legalizing same-sex marriage. The National Organization for Marriage, along for Stand for Marriage Maine and the Catholic Diocese of Maine lead a campaign of fear that changing marriage as they had always known it would be destructive to society. That fear worked, and people voted in favor of repealing Maine's same-sex marriage law.I share the feelings of disappointment and grief over the loss that LGBT individuals in Maine are experiencing. I also share the outrage at the Catholic Bishop who used the power of his office to politicize and turn a church Sacrament into a political agenda. I very much appreciate the response of Episcopal Bishop Stephen T. Lane. I invite my readers to view his written response to the unfortunate results of this election.
I think what is happening in this situation as is what happened in California with Proposition 8 is that we have people sadly rejecting what is unfamiliar to them. The issue of homosexuality has made great strides since the Stonewall riots of 1969. However, we still have so far to go. The result of the election process in Maine as disappointing as it is, needs to energize us to continue our work to come out and tell our families, friends, neighbors, managers, pastors, and politicians that we are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered and that we matter just like anyone else. We should not have to be placing our rights to have jobs, marry the person we love and the like in the hands of voters. But, I do think that we are still fighting the tide of those who are afraid of what they are not familiar with. They are responding out of fear. Organizations like the Catholic Bishop in Maine, the National Organization for Marriage and Stand for Marriage Maine, and Focus on the Family, are capitalizing on people's fears. Just like the Pharisees and religious leaders of Jesus' day capitalized on the fears of many people of their day about the changes Jesus was bringing to their culture.
If you are someone who is LGBT, introduce yourself to someone that you've not yet introduced yourself too. If you haven't told someone you are LGBT do so. Help people see who LGBT people are. If you are in a relationship, let people see how much you love each other. When eyes look at you with meanness, look back at them with love. When people shake their heads, tip your hats in a joyful hello. Where people are rude, show unusual kindness. Can I do all this easily? No way. When someone pisses me off, all I want to say is the usual f--k you and be done. Are there other more appropriate responses? Yes. Are there ways to respond in anger and still help people see the best in LGBT individuals? Yes, absolutely. We do not have to be on the same level as those who oppose us, we can be better than.
Among the things I would hope for is that when Hollywood produces movies and television programming about LGBT people, that they could get away from the stereotypes. The only LGBT movie that I have ever seen that stays away from the stereotyping is "Shock to the System." People need to see that LGBT individuals have class, respectability, dignity and a healthy sense of themselves.I would also like to suggest that some LGBT people find welcoming houses of worship and good places to vent their frustrations besides the just the bars and drug abuse. We have opportunities to change people's perceptions of us and we need to take hold of those moments and put the best of ourselves forward, without shame, lack of self confidence or feeling like we are the bottom of the barrel. We have just as much to offer the world around us, and we have every reason to put our best out there for people to know us by.
O God, grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things that we can and the wisdom to know the difference. Amen.
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