I know I’ve missed the last couple of days, but it’s been for good reason. After nearly a year, Tara was finally able to come home, so I’ve been a little preoccupied. It’s been a great week with her parents and an incredible first few days with her home. For now, we’ll go back to being apart for the next couple of days to spend time with our families, but I guess we’re used to it. The last couple of days have been full of catching up with friends and family for Tara, and I’ve been trying to help her see everyone. Our first stop was a friend of her mom’s that has been a huge advocate and supporter of Tara.
Leslie and Tara’s mom have been friends since, we’ll just call them the good ole days (only kidding, they’re both still most definitely in their prime). Anyway, Leslie has been there since well before Tara was born and has definitely become one of Tara’s few second moms. Last year, just before I left in June, Leslie opened up her home and let us crash for a couple of nights, and has always been super supportive. I felt like an old friend the second I walked up and felt more than comfortable, even in a gay bar.
Leslie is a part of the LGBT community and lives in one of the major gay pride areas in Long Beach. It was so nice to feel so welcomed, but before long, it was also clear that this year hadn’t been the best for Leslie. While the move to this area may have been great for her and her lifestyle, the reasons for it weren’t ideal. Last year when I saw her, she was in a wheelchair after some recent surgery, so this very active woman was confined to her seat. This was just the start a tough transition and some difficult battles to face.
I won’t tell much of the story because, as usual, parts of this story aren’t mine to tell. But I will say that it’s just a clear picture of the fact that we all face difficult trials and need our friends around us for support. Leslie was our host and supporter, but I do believe that Tim, Dixie, and Tara were able to return the favor just by being there and showing her love. We all face trials of many kinds and it’s a blessing to see your community rally behind you.
I won’t stay on this soapbox long, but I will just make a statement. I’ve seen Christians and the local church do some great things, but loving and communicating with the LGBT community has been horrendous. I think we’ve almost pushed more people into it over the years because of how we respond to their revelations, than loved someone out of it. Sure, we believe it’s wrong, but we’ll go into prisons to show the love of God to murderers and rapists and leave the store when a gay man walks in. Personally, I would never equate those two people, but if God calls both a sin and also calls lying a sin, then all three of us are equal.
So why has homosexuality become such a hot/taboo topic? Because we’ve made it into one. We’ll love a liar, a murderer, a gossip, a manipulator, but we’ll draw the line and take the gloves off on this particular issue. Do I believe acting on homosexual thoughts and feelings is a sin? Yes. Do I believe they deserve any less grace or love than me, the murderer, or the manipulator? Absolutely not. Now, let me be very clear. I never want to be an advocate or encourage someone into the LGBT community. But I also never want to act so hatefully towards someone that my hypocrisy makes them miss the love of God.
I don’t want anyone to miss out on heaven. But that’s not for me to decide, choose, or judge. I know Jesus is the only way there and I know that when I get there, I may be shocked at who is and who isn’t there. It has nothing to do with religion. It’s based purely on that relationship with God made possible through Jesus, therefore, a church attendance has little to do with heaven’s attendance. There are just sometimes and some subjects that I wish the church would look a little more like heaven in. But again, I’m just one guy, and I choose love. I’ll leave judging acceptability up to someone else.
