As most of you know, last week I experienced some hurtful words from the church I was attending. After just being unwelcome at my last church, I didn't think I would find myself at a new church so soon. After that incident, I swore never to set foot in another traditional church having to deal with church politics and self righteous bible thumpers. I really thought I was on my own. But today I went to a new church. I had not known this church was 30 miles away from me. I found a church where gays and lesbians can congregate and worship God and be happy. I was welcomed and hugged and people wanted to know who I was. I'm so used to being ignored and looked at ugly and being told hurtful things. I was overwhelmed with hugs and smiles.
Does anyone remember the music video called No Rain by Blind Melon? In the beginning of the video, there is a girl in a bee outfit and she is tap dancing and when she is done, people laugh at her and she starts crying and runs away. And through out the video, she's dancing for people that pay her no attention until towards the end she comes to a field to discover there are other bee people just like her running happy and carefree and finally finds a place where she belongs without ridicule and laughter and she can herself.
Well right now, I feel like that bee girl, finally arriving at a place where others are like me. Where I don't have to defend myself, be attacked or laughed at or thrown scriptures. I am so happy I found that church.
Steve
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Lamentation 3:24 The Lord is all I have, and so in him I put my hope.
I am very happy that you found a place that loves, affirms and accepts you. May I also encourage you on this: as awful as the past has been with people rejecting you, I first of all fully, FULLY understand that (walk a mile in my shoes, mah brutha!) and also I understand in my life why and it might apply in your life as well: God allows us to go through trials and tribulations for a reason. He wants us to perhaps learn something, but sometimes He wants us to just be able to be a testimony to others going through the exact same pain.
I realize that for years the traditional church folk rejected me, called me names, wouldn't let me play in their reindeer games, but then I began to understand why God allowed that (after years of yelling at God about this): because I can go to goth clubs or other gatherings of Christians outside the mainstream of western Christian postmodern society and be able to RELATE to them, that I can relate to and understand their pain and sorrow and say to them that not just "Oh I'm sorry I'll pray for you to find a right place", but more like "I've BEEN there, let me GUIDE you to that right place".
Please understand what I'm saying is not meaning to make light of your prior situation but to put it into perspective now that you're at "the other side". Look back and realize that sometimes God has a plan for us that we just can't fathom because we're not God and then when He decides to reveal it, then you know that perhaps that while it's never GOOD that you went through it, that God just perhaps will allow it to be USED FOR GOOD.
I am so happy that you've found a REAL church that loves and accept you! It looks like God has blessed a LOT of us this past weekend. The Lord will continue to bless you and grow you up even MORE than now...especially since you're in a far better church environment.
Just remember that whenever people fail you...GOD NEVER WILL!
