Same Love

As I have grown older and hopefully more mature, I have changed my positions on many topics, ranging from child care to GMO’s to other, more pressing socio-political issues. I am almost ashamed to admit I had a different perspective on some topics in years past, because of how my previous views might be perceived.

 

While I had supported the notion of civil unions, I didn’t think much about their impact on how the world turned. It was an easy going, laissez faire attitude. Then it smacked me in the face. I won’t get into details, but several gay couples I was acquainted with had to face life or death issues, and it changed my view on gay marriage:

 

Despite being estranged from family for decades, the legal next of kin was a sibling who disapproved of their lifestyle. That is who was notified by the hospital that their partner was dying.

 

A couple, together for over three decades, had to spend thousands to make sure their partner was taken care of after their death, because they were unmarried.

 

A family, fighting to stay together, because the parent on record had died, and the remaining partner had no legal right to the child they raised together. There was the very real possibility of that little one being placed in the foster care system, since parents were unmarried.

 

Families are not a political issue.

Love is not a political issue.

 

I was taught as a Christian to love my neighbor as myself. It doesn’t offer a caveat if they dressed a certain way, drove a particular car, were handsome/pretty or whatever. Over and over, the Bible preaches that love rules. Yet, there is so much hatred, vitriol and division.

 

Last year, the Episcopal Church held their General Convention in Indianapolis. During it, a same sex marriage rite was approved. After the news filtered out, the church quickly divided into two camps-those opposed and those against. The ugliness and hateful words that occurred after Bishop Gene Robinson was elected came back, in spades. I, for one, was disgusted by the lack of response from both the presiding bishop as well as church hierarchy. I wanted someone-anyone-in the church to say something that would help heal the rift.

 

The silence was deafening.

 

The two denominations I have consistently worshipped in over the course of my teenage and adult life have both been “gay friendly” (the Unitarian Universalist and the Episcopal Churches, for those keeping score). The fact that a caveat has to be used upsets me. I don’t feel churches have to identify that they are women friendly or straight friendly or autism friendly to put seats in the pews. It’s purely the Holy Spirit that I would find myself aligned with denominations that put respect for all humans, no exceptions, as part of their mission. When we respect others and look beyond the barriers between us, we are living Jesus’ mission.

 

Let love rule.