there are a couple of thoughts that i have been ruminating over the past couple of days, so i thought i would share them...
the first thought came to me last night as i read a news story and the comments which readers had posted beneath it. the story was tragic and one we have all read before... a youth minister who has been arrested and charged with sexually abusing members of the youth group... a male youth minister... abusing young boys. the difference: this minister is a kid who has been in my house. this minister is a friend of a family member. it is tragic.
also tragic are the comments. that god does not exist. that this guy proves that god doesn't exist. that he is just "a flaming homosexual using the church to meet his unnatural lustful desires"...
comments like these and hate speech make me think we should revoke the freedom of speech. and invoke a new freedom. freedom of intelligent speech. there are groups on facebook where people say that gay people are fags, morons, and ruining the moral fabric of the nation. there are politicians and civic leaders who fire teachers for talking to their classes about hate crimes against gays and lesbians. there are churches and pastors who say that God hates gay people and that all gays have an agenda to end the family as we know it.
these people should be made to shut up. and for once... listen.
listen.
we'll never reconnect, unless we learn to really listen. to see each other and hear each other. why can we not exercise the freedom of intelligent speech?
the second thought came to me this morning as i was formulating some thoughts on why i want to do therapy by a certain model called interpersonal process. i always say that i believe in the power of the relationship... but why?
i came to a conclusion this morning that i think is truth. so i share it with you in hopes for dialogue...
relationships are never ineffectual. every relationship has an effect on a person. however small. and to further that thought, every relationship either brings harm or healing. even in the smallest of doses.
how can i make sure that i bring healing to others? how does this thought affect how the church deals with the lgbt community? how does it change the way we see each other and treat each other?
til next time, i leave you with those thoughts...
