Nadia, I have to smile at how much I don't want to hear your clarity and truth, and how much I do at the same time. Thank you! I shall continue to stumble and trudge with laughter, hope and God's love toward becoming a more loving and accepting me. 💞
Hey, I remember one actual not too bad experience talking bout gay folks with church folks, it was on a church trip where I was side by side with this "gay is a big fat sin" guy darren as we were both out in the field picking up broken pieces of a house trailer after a tornado had blasted thru and ripped it apart. it was like somehow us working together shrunk the debate steam down to something we could both manage. Weird.
I am trans, and it is a pain to be in a hate group for much of British society from the Prime Minister and Cabient ministers on down: The Times, the right-wing press generally, and much of the left-wing press.
I have zeroed in on Nick Fletcher, a Conservative MP, who summed up conservatism in a speech in Parliament attacking trans rights. He said,
“All the time, one of the few consistencies that a person can have in this mixed-up world is taken away". Poor man. He hears some people call ourselves nonbinary, and has a meltdown.
In this crazy mixed-up world, where I fear such people and their influence, I get that I am not supposed to hate, and, how can I love this man?
Love love love love love this morning's piece! It's one of the "ticks" that has stood out the most to me over the last 10 years or so. I just finished reading "Stranger in a strange land" again a couple of days ago & that book also brought it up for me...It has become very easy for us to judge, point and ridicule things which we know in our heart of hearts we are all or have been guilty of. And God forbid if we ever just actually mind our own business, with our world constantly shrinking to a screen in our hands, that allows us to keep the blinders on. Live & Let Live is one of the toughest things for us to do but you reminded me today, it is truly the only way we will find peace and get that one on one with God! IMO obviously ;)
Thank-you Nadia. I appreciated your thinking this Sunday morning. I needed some peace in this challenging Pride year. A good reminder of who I demonize.
Thank you for encouraging us to grapple, seek, love and support. This morning Pastor Alex was talking about mercy. She quoted Anne Lamont, “Mercy is Grace in Action.” I pray I give it to those all around me and never hold back.
Your article makes me squirm. It's good to have a scapegoat, whoever or whatever group that happens to be. I hate to admit it. 72 and I still worry about being OK, although nowhere near what I did for many years. I really didn't realize the truth of this until you just pointed it out. Thanks for your wisdom and insight. Only when we see our sin, our wrong doing, can we do better. I just hope I'm missing the mark by a lot less than in years past. I guess that's what sanctification is.
“I wish I knew how to do all of this in a good way. I wish I knew how to have convictions and live them out in the world - how to participate in creating a more just world without also creating a scapegoat for my own bullshit.” That says it all! So accurate and wise and a perfect description of my own struggle these days. If you figure out how to do it, please let me know!
One organization that I think helps people do this is the Choose Love Movement, chooselovemovement.org. I have no connection to it or personal experience with its programs, but there are lots of studies and testimonials about how they transform individuals and communities. It’s a nonprofit started by the mom of a six-year-old killed in the Sandy Hook school shooting, and all programs are free and available to anyone who registers on the website. She saw a need to address the root cause of the suffering that leads people to do things like shoot up classrooms.
I loved this. I neeed the reminders to reel back in my “better than thou” thinking. If I could just be free from my prejudices. I’m getting better. Will they ever be completely gone?
I guess as I’ve been thinking and reflecting on this piece, what comes to mind is the idea of self love. When you wrote today about those we are so quick to judge and how we even crave a platform for that, I thought: I judge the person I was before and the person I was before judged and didn’t understand people who make the same choices I do now. And yet God and the craving to love him and those around me were within and surrounding both of these identities. Although I’ve changed my views, am redefining my faith, etc., I still honor that past self and her journey through faith. If I can honor this past self and see love, faith, empathy, and compassion within her, then this love can turn outward.
I seemed to have developed a crush on you! I just love your thinking, your writing and all your YOU-NESS. Keep sharing the truth and helping to make the world a better place, while we are here. Thank you!
Nadia, I have to smile at how much I don't want to hear your clarity and truth, and how much I do at the same time. Thank you! I shall continue to stumble and trudge with laughter, hope and God's love toward becoming a more loving and accepting me. 💞
Love attending Church when Pastor Nadia is in the house! Thanks again for bringing tears of joy and Happy Dad's Dad to all!
Hey, I remember one actual not too bad experience talking bout gay folks with church folks, it was on a church trip where I was side by side with this "gay is a big fat sin" guy darren as we were both out in the field picking up broken pieces of a house trailer after a tornado had blasted thru and ripped it apart. it was like somehow us working together shrunk the debate steam down to something we could both manage. Weird.
Thanks for your clarity of insight and "calling the thing what it is."
I am trans, and it is a pain to be in a hate group for much of British society from the Prime Minister and Cabient ministers on down: The Times, the right-wing press generally, and much of the left-wing press.
I have zeroed in on Nick Fletcher, a Conservative MP, who summed up conservatism in a speech in Parliament attacking trans rights. He said,
“All the time, one of the few consistencies that a person can have in this mixed-up world is taken away". Poor man. He hears some people call ourselves nonbinary, and has a meltdown.
In this crazy mixed-up world, where I fear such people and their influence, I get that I am not supposed to hate, and, how can I love this man?
Well I would think love might be a little strong. You accept his bigoted self but please stay out of my way as I try to live my life.
Love love love love love this morning's piece! It's one of the "ticks" that has stood out the most to me over the last 10 years or so. I just finished reading "Stranger in a strange land" again a couple of days ago & that book also brought it up for me...It has become very easy for us to judge, point and ridicule things which we know in our heart of hearts we are all or have been guilty of. And God forbid if we ever just actually mind our own business, with our world constantly shrinking to a screen in our hands, that allows us to keep the blinders on. Live & Let Live is one of the toughest things for us to do but you reminded me today, it is truly the only way we will find peace and get that one on one with God! IMO obviously ;)
Thank-you Nadia. I appreciated your thinking this Sunday morning. I needed some peace in this challenging Pride year. A good reminder of who I demonize.
I have been that person pointing ....thank you for helping me realize this shitty behavior.
This was amazing, the balm I needed today more than you can imagine. Thank you.
Thank you for encouraging us to grapple, seek, love and support. This morning Pastor Alex was talking about mercy. She quoted Anne Lamont, “Mercy is Grace in Action.” I pray I give it to those all around me and never hold back.
Your article makes me squirm. It's good to have a scapegoat, whoever or whatever group that happens to be. I hate to admit it. 72 and I still worry about being OK, although nowhere near what I did for many years. I really didn't realize the truth of this until you just pointed it out. Thanks for your wisdom and insight. Only when we see our sin, our wrong doing, can we do better. I just hope I'm missing the mark by a lot less than in years past. I guess that's what sanctification is.
“I wish I knew how to do all of this in a good way. I wish I knew how to have convictions and live them out in the world - how to participate in creating a more just world without also creating a scapegoat for my own bullshit.” That says it all! So accurate and wise and a perfect description of my own struggle these days. If you figure out how to do it, please let me know!
One organization that I think helps people do this is the Choose Love Movement, chooselovemovement.org. I have no connection to it or personal experience with its programs, but there are lots of studies and testimonials about how they transform individuals and communities. It’s a nonprofit started by the mom of a six-year-old killed in the Sandy Hook school shooting, and all programs are free and available to anyone who registers on the website. She saw a need to address the root cause of the suffering that leads people to do things like shoot up classrooms.
I loved this. I neeed the reminders to reel back in my “better than thou” thinking. If I could just be free from my prejudices. I’m getting better. Will they ever be completely gone?
I guess as I’ve been thinking and reflecting on this piece, what comes to mind is the idea of self love. When you wrote today about those we are so quick to judge and how we even crave a platform for that, I thought: I judge the person I was before and the person I was before judged and didn’t understand people who make the same choices I do now. And yet God and the craving to love him and those around me were within and surrounding both of these identities. Although I’ve changed my views, am redefining my faith, etc., I still honor that past self and her journey through faith. If I can honor this past self and see love, faith, empathy, and compassion within her, then this love can turn outward.
I seemed to have developed a crush on you! I just love your thinking, your writing and all your YOU-NESS. Keep sharing the truth and helping to make the world a better place, while we are here. Thank you!
Yes. Me, too. I am glad such people are in this world.
Incredible piece today. Thank you.