sometimes i wonder if being gay or lesbian is like the modern version of having leprosy. i know the analogy breaks down at many levels, and doesn’t completely work for many reasons, but there are parts of it that ring true…
sometimes, i see people look at me and i wonder if they are thinking i have a disease. some people, once they know, don’t hug me as closely… others just stop talking to me… I wonder if it would be worse if i were “out and proud”
… it’s as if there is an invisible motion and silent scream going out from somewhere within, shouting “unclean!” and pushing others away. no one wants to stick around, and most people would rather send the lepers away to be treated…
but then there are the compassionate ones, the ones who love me anyway. the ones who make me think that it might be possible that God loves me, and that reconciliation is possible. they are not afraid to get close, to come in contact, to be with me, and sit with me in my pain and loneliness.
they touch lepers.
and they bring healing to the places where the skin is falling off from all of the relational wounds and spiritual beatings – some from those who mean well, some from those who hate.
but those who touch lepers… they mean love.
