Category Archives: Church

Celebrate, Church, Community, Diversity, Facebook, LGBTQIA+, Love, Parenthood

It’s Pride Month: Thoughts from an Ally

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A recent brawl discussion I inadvertently started on Facebook with a meme expressing my love and support of the LGBTQIA+ community frustrated me.

It was this meme:

Simple and to the point, right? Not up for discussion for me. Yet, a Facebook friend decided that this was an opportunity to pose as someone who is genuinely curious and open-minded. It was merely an excuse for this person to question the legitimacy of others who feel and think differently than them about their sexuality and gender identity.

I’d love to say that I got into the fray, but I didn’t. Chalk it up to being a person who shies away from conflict, but I can tell you that any response I would have given would have not made one lick of a difference in this person’s attitude or opinions. Also, two other friends of mine on Facebook, both members of the LGBTQIA+ community, responded with statistics and insights in a way that I could not have. So I let it be.

I’m an ally, striving to a better one. My youngest kid is queer and trans. I love them not “in spite” of their gender identity and sexual orientation, but in part because of it.

I love that my kid knows who they are at their core. I love that my kid felt comfortable coming out to Hubs and me. I love that my kid has a big heart for all, but especially for those in their community who haven’t found acceptance in their family of origin. A big part of what they do in their job is to reach out and help the unhoused population in Denver, some of which are also members of the LGBTQIA+ community. They (my kid) provide them with comfort and validation. They provide them with safety and resources. I couldn’t be prouder of them.

Beyond my open-hearted, creative, and intelligent kid, I love and admire many more of those in the LGBTQIA + community along with their allies. Many in this community are people I have close friendships with. People I have worked with or worked for. People who have cared about and for me, made me laugh, and enlightened me.

I am grateful for all of them.

Growing up and beyond, when the topic of LGBTQIA + came up, relatives of mine have said things like “God didn’t call them Adam and Steve, you know”. Former co-workers have said things like “love the sinner, hate the sin”. I never felt that I had the right words in those moments to respond to that unsolicited commentary.

Those worn-out, condescending, and clueless phrases infuriate me. Because I don’t believe homosexuality is a sin. The religious zealots in our midst like to shout their opposition, but in reality the Bible only mentions homosexuality in the context of men sleeping with boys. Which of course is pedophilia.

The God I believe in loves us all. The message I’ve received, thanks in part to a bit of studying and processing the Bible and being a long-term member of the UCC (United Church of Christ) is this: we are not to judge each other, but love each other. Care for each other. Support each other, regardless of our differences. Respect each other and hold space in our hearts for “the other”. Affirm, not just accept, each other.

My pastor (I attend “vurtch”, as in virtual church, due to my home church being stationed in Colorado and not here in Wisconsin) had a great sermon this past Sunday re: pride month, love, and the LGTBQIA+ community. One of the most important points he made was that here in the U.S., we are now, as a society, so anti-stranger. It’s true. And it’s sad.

Diversity in all of its forms is what makes the world go ’round. It deserves celebration. It deserves reverence. It deserves attention. We all benefit from it.

We are all just humans here, bumbling our way through life. Let’s have some compassion and move on.

Don’t we have bigger fish to fry than enacting laws that further disadvantage our LGBTQIA+ peers and youth and foment hate towards the “other”?

Here’s a song that touches my heart by the massively talented LGBTQ artist, Brandi Carlile.

Happy Pride Month to all who celebrate!!

Church, Colorado living, Community, Happiness, Hope, Life, Moods, Positivity

Looking Forward

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This past year, I found myself in a place where, for the first time in my life, I believe I understood what depression feels like. I put full blame for this on the Covid-19 pandemic. It really threw a wrench in my moods and my attitude.

I think it showed in some of my blog posts. Sorry about that.

Sure, I started a new job back in August and that lifted my spirits, infused me with some energy and ambition. But the days became the same it seemed. While for the most part, I liked (and still do like) having a daily routine, I often felt bored. Uninspired. Unmotivated. My interest in things I historically enjoyed doing waxed and waned.

I believe one reason behind this is that I didn’t have anything to really look forward to. No concrete plans. No fun activities on the immediate horizon. Unlike a post I penned back in 2018.

You can all relate, right?

What helped, especially on those particularly “blah” days, was saying out loud what I am glad about. Sort of like the “Glad Game” I’ve heard about from the “Pollyanna” movie which I have not yet seen (what is wrong with me???!!)

Typically I would spout this out while driving our truck to work. Naturally, doing this was harder some days than others. But once I did it, my spirits lifted. My attitude shifted to one of gratitude. I recognize that sounds cheesy-but it’s the truth, Ruth.

Let me give you an example. As I started backing out of the garage one morning, I said “today I am glad that after work I’m getting a massage. And I had a good night’s sleep last night. And I started a new blog post”. It’s all just simple things, specific to that day. Focusing on what is truly good in the moment and not wishing things were different or thinking that they ought to be.

But now things are really starting to look up for me. For you, too, I think. We’ve got a new administration in the People’s House who is taking this pandemic head-on. Covid-19 cases are starting to plummet. More and more of us are getting vaccinated (for me, as an essential worker, I ought to be getting my first dose by mid-March).

I may be jinxing it, getting ahead of myself…but I think it’s *safe* to begin to think about what there is to look forward to in the near-ish future. You know, those things we couldn’t do because the pandemic kept us home for the most part.

What’s on your list?

Here’s mine:

  • A date with Hubs, the scientist who has been far more informed and conscientious re: Covid-19 than most, to shop at Trader Joe’s in Boulder and have lunch at the nearby Panera.
  • Visiting our favorite local brew pub, Twenty Brew, which I am thankful is still in business. It’s been too long since we’ve been there to try new brews and visit with the owner, Dave, and his charming bartenders.
  • Chatting in person with our church friends at church. Hosting “coffee hour” where I get to share sweet goodies I made in the little kitchen in our townhome the day before.
  • A weekend in Idaho Springs with Hubs. Where we get to soak in the communal hot springs and check out the local cuisine and quirky shops. Maybe we will stay at Ms. Vicki ‘s B&B again.
  • A day trip to Estes Park. Hiking. Taking in the astonishingly beautiful scenery, both on the drive up and while hiking amidst it’s majesty.

Now I know that realistically some of these things will not happen anytime soon. If I’m extraordinarily fortunate, they will all take place before the end of the summer. But if only a portion of them happen, it’s all good.

If this pandemic has taught me anything, it’s to appreciate what is and to keep my expectations reasonable.

Blogging, Blogging Community, Church, Covid-19, Faith, Gratitude, Hope, Life, Moods, Spirituality

How I’m Rolling These Days

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I’m in a funk mentally and tired physically. Covid-19 has worn me down. No, I don’t actually have it. Thank God.

Both my eldest and my sister had it though. Both have recovered. Thank God for that too.

Wearing a mask all the time bites the big one. I get overheated and my nose is always itchy beneath it. Working more hours is sapping my energy for all the other things I want and need to do. But I am employed at a place that does amazing things to help those in need and I have wonderful, hard-working co-workers. Thank God for that too.

There are no fun plans on the horizon for me and mine because of Covid-19. But I’m certain there will be fun times further ahead, probably next summer when we have had reasonable adults in the White House for a bit who believe in science and ensure everyone has been vaccinated against this monster. Thank God for that!

I’ve not been as consistent as I like to be with writing and publishing blog posts lately because my energy is going elsewhere. But I managed to write this today. Thank God for that?!

I can’t see my church friends I miss in person because of Covid-19. Yet our pastors and talented musicians and volunteer tech support has come a long way with their ability to put together a virtual service over these past several months. I plan on watching the service this morning cuddled up on the couch with Hubs and Radar. Thank God for that.

Despite not spending as much time blogging these days, I’m still getting views, comments, and followers. I am so grateful for that. It’s heartwarming for me. Thank God for each and every one of you.

I wish all of you a blessed day. I hope you are all well and are able to find things to be thankful for in your lives. Even if you have to work through the things you are not so thankful for first.

Please share with me how you are “rolling” these days. You know I love to hear from you!

Blogging, Church, Community, Inspire, Love, Positivity, Volunteerism, Writing

How do you do Community?

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Community is the glue that keeps our society together. I’ve been blessed in my life to have been a part of a variety of different communities. These experiences with community have shaped me. They have inspired me. They have taught me so very much. They have most certainly been a source of joy.

Like the community of church folks who came together back in Wisconsin a few years ago to fix up a single mom’s beautiful old house to get it ready to be sold. This was a days long process involving probably 24 of us. We painted. We put up curtains. Some of us did some electrical work and plumbing. While working on these tasks, we also got to know each other better. We ended with a shared experience that benefited not just the single mom and her kids, but all of us.

Like the community of friends, many of whom hadn’t officially met before, who came together to make a home accessible for a friend’s spouse who in her 30’s suffered a stroke while vacationing out of the country and was soon coming out of rehab. We organized closets, we built an accessible ramp, we updated the bathroom and re-arranged the bedroom to accommodate the spouse’s new way of moving through their day to day world.

Like the community at our local brew pub, 3 miles down the road from our townhome here in Colorado. If ever there was a “Cheers”  in real life, this would be that place. The owners and bartenders know our names. The owners regularly schedule events that build community.

And this sign is prominently featured, which I very much appreciate. This one hangs in the ladies’ restroom.

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Then there’s our current church community. Our major fundraiser each year is a lawn mower clinic, held in May. Hubs and I, along with probably 2-3 dozen other church folks came together on three Saturdays this past May to check the oil, change spark plugs, and clean those well used, clunky machines up so they would be in good working condition for their owners when the time came to get back to mowing their lawns again. Each of these Saturdays were nasty, weather-wise. Snow. Rain. Cloudy, cold, and breezy. From my perspective, only experiencing 2 years in Colorado, this weather was a-typical for the time of year. But yet we all bundled up, drank a lot of hot coffee, and got things done as a community.

The Facebook blogging community I’ve recently become a part of is another example of how I like to “do” community in my life. In this group, bloggers often lift each other up. They turn each other on to new ideas, new tricks to improve their writing and their blogs. They  We support each other as best we can. We seem to understand that while we all have our individual blogs, we’re in it (aka the Blogosphere) together. We all want to succeed at what we’re doing and we all love to write. We respect each other. There does not seem to be a sense of “my blog vs. your blog” competitive b.s. going on in this group. We all seem to engage with this group in an effort to build each other, and ourselves at the same time, up. I’m so glad I decided to join this community.

The bottom line, for me, is that being around others, especially with a clear goal in mind, energizes me. It appeals to my social and socially conscious nature. It opens up my world, teaches me things I didn’t know I needed to learn, both about myself and others. It helps me focus on the positive and reminds me that there is good in the world. That the number of good people in our universe far outweighs the number of bad people. It gives me hope.

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