Friday, May 11, 2012
Godding
It's about the Journey. It's not about doctrines and dogmas, which help to a point, but then they get in the way and end up bugging the crap out of me. They need to be let go of eventually.
For me, "worship" needs to go too. Community is the not the exclusive purview of the Church. When I stand in awe of Creation, I know that God manifests there. God is in everything and everything is in God. Not sure what God is, but THAT God is.
God needs not to be "believed" in but experienced as the One. Other people need to be experienced as the One--it's all God! This does not make me God, but a very deep part of God.
When I go to a running practice, I experience God; same too, when I walk by the side of the Lake with my beloved partner. Even being in a well-run restaurant where the staff really enjoys the jobs they do, the people they meet, and the food they serve: God is there. Sometimes God even shows up in church.
Let us go deep and dance in the Godding...
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Thank you, Mr. President
What a difference a day makes! Amazing: the President of the United States has said that he has evolved to support marriage equality. Thanks be to God.
The battle's not over, but it feels good to hear President Obama say it. The first sitting president to do so.
Yes, North Carolina enshrined prejudice; the United Methodists did too. But we're a hell of lot closer to victory in the marriage equality fight. Hell, demographics are on our side, period.
Let's us be proud! But let's not rest on our laurels. We have work to do. And let us not cast aspersions on those with whom we disagree. As hard as it is, let us keep the upper hand, rooted in compassion. We WILL triumph, but let us do so with grace.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Justice?!
Now, y'all might wonder why I put this picture when I am going to talk about North Carolina. Well, because thank God there exists places in the state that maintain the welcome for LGBT folks and marriage equality, even when the majority of the its citizens vote against it.
It SUCKS that we have to fight over something so STUPID in the 21st century, but there it is. Not only does my heart go out to those LGBT folks in relationships who would like to get them recognized by the state, but it also embraces those straight folks who are in relationships other than marriage.
North Carolina IS the South; it might take a bit longer there. Of course, we can support our President and make sure he gets re-elected. Then we can make sure he PUSHES to overturn DOMA with the Democratic House we are going to elect in November alongside the strengthened Senate..
It's a matter of time, period. We WILL overcome. But we can never let our guard down.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Blessings, All!
Yup, I am running a full 26.2 miles in the Chicago Marathon in order to raise money for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago. Every 9.5 seconds, another person tests positive for HIV; 2.1 million have it in the US. We need to end this...now.
So, why does a healthy person who is not HIV+ and does not have AIDS, run? I run to remember. I re-member Roger Bessie Bates, Thomas Joseph, The Rev Waylon Melton, Sean Colvin, Bernard, and Allen Andrew. They were friends who no longer brighten my day. They shall not be forgotten.
I run, too, for all those who live with HIV now. Thank God, it is pretty much a chronic condition rather than a death sentence, but that doesn't make it right. We have to end this.
I run for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago to support their incredible work. AIDS funding might be cut 50% in Illinois; AFC needs your help.
Every drop of sweat and muscle pain shows my dedication to running this race for life. Please join me, and together, we can do our part to end AIDS forever.
Love and life,
Yossi
http://afc.aidschicago.org/netcommunity/yossiforlife
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yFtdiGl3aA&feature=player_embedded
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