| 15 | Turn to me and have pity on me, * for I am left alone and in misery. |
| 16 | The sorrows of my heart have increased; * bring me out of my troubles. |
| 17 | Look upon my adversity and misery * and forgive me all my sin. |
| 18 | Look upon my enemies, for they are many, * and they bear a violent hatred against me. |
| 19 | Protect my life and deliver me; * let me not be put to shame, for I have trusted in you. |
| 20 | Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, * for my hope has been in you. |
| 21 | Deliver Israel, O God, * out of all his troubles. |
Among the many things I love about the Psalms is that through them we are able to tell God what is on our minds. In the Psalms there is no playing around about what we are telling God in our prayers. On many occasions when I have prayed the Divine Office I have found myself praying one of the assigned Psalms and it manages to say what I am feeling at that point in time.
As I write this blog many of us in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community are hearing about Clay and Harold. The senior gay couple in Sonoma County, California that ignored their life long commitment to each other. This story began with the most heart wrenching news, but it only gets worse the more we learn.
More about Clay and Harold's story is told on Queeried.
You and your partner have been together for two decades. You’re totally dedicated to each other and want to make sure that each other is looked after should happen, so you make sure everything from wills to powers of attorney and medical directives in place
Having done that you can now both live your lives together reassured that whatever happens you will be able to be there for each other right?
Well apparently not. At least not in the case of Harold and Clay. At 88 years old Harold was starting to become more frail, but still living at home with his beloved 77 year old partner Clay.
That was until the evening he fell up his front steps.
Needing medical treatment Harold was taken to hospital. Now having drawn up legal medical directives this should have meant Clay was consulted through the whole process. Not only did this not occur but both county and health care works refused to let Clay see Harold.
And it gets worse.
The country then went further and isolated the couple placing them in separate nursing homes.
Totally ignoring the relationship that existed between the two, the county then acted to treat Harold as a man who had no family, despite Clay and his 20 year relationship. When Clay contested this in court, in order to be able to make financial decisions for Harold, he was denied the right with the county gaining limited access to Harold’s account to pay for care instead after they described Clay as just a “roommate”.
Surely though it can’t get worse. Well actually yes it can.
Clay and Harold had spent 20 years accumulating memories and possessions that would always remind them of the times they had together. These were things to cherish forever.
Except the county didn’t see it that way. They instead took everything the men had owned and auctioned it off. They also removed Clay from his home, placed him in a nursing home against his will, then terminated Clay and Harold’s lease surrendering the property back to the landlord.
And it just gets sadder. Three months after being hospitalized Harold died. And he didn’t die with the man he loved. He died in a nursing home he never wanted to be in. And Clay is now not only left without the man he loved, but also with nothing to remember his partner by other than a photo album that Harold had painstakingly created for Clay in his last few months.
Clearly as long as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered couples continue to be treated by our governments and churches as no one important, deserving of equal rights protections stories about people like Clay and Harold will not only continue, they will get worse. I am sure that they feel like the Psalmist who wrote: "Turn to me and have pity on me, for I am left alone in misery. The sorrows of my heart have increased; bring me out of my troubles. Look upon my enemies, for they are many, and they bear a violent hatred against me." (Psalm 25: 15, 16 and 18).
As Christians who believe and are witnesses to the crucified and risen Lord it is our business to peacefully and respectfully respond to situations such as this. There is no law and no religious conviction that should be used to justify this kind of discrimination. We must call upon our President and Congress to not only pass the inclusive employment non-discrimination act but also repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. We would do well to call upon the American Civil Liberties Union, the Human Rights Campaign, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and all other organizations to express righteous outrage concerning this case. And we as progressive Christians should make our voices known that this kind of thing cannot be acceptable by any Christian Church or group of people who seek the good will of all.
O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Collect for the Third Sunday of Easter, Book of Common Prayer, Page 224).
O God, the creator and preserver of all, we humbly beseech you for all sorts and conditions of people; that you would be pleased to make your ways known unto them, your saving health unto all nations. More especially we pray for your holy Church universal; that it may be so guided and governed by your good Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Finally, we commend to your fatherly goodness all those who are in any ways afflicted or distressed, in mind, body, or estate; that it may please you to comfort and relieve them according to their several necessities, giving them patience under their sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflictions. And this we beg for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. (Prayer for All Sorts and Conditions, Book of Common Prayer, Page 814).
Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us to forget: the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick, and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal those who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Poor and Neglected, Book of Common Prayer, Page 826)
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