I wrote this back on August 8, 2010 and came across it again today as I flipped through my old journals. I don't know if that is a bad thing though that I can still apply a poem about life that I wrote three years ago to my life today. oh well...
Unwritten
The path that lies before me is jagged and gray.
It is times like these I wish I could go back the other way.
The choices I have made have led me to this point;
Standing at the crossroad with no clear end in sight.
Why is life so hard, so unwritten, with no clear path?
The one great adventure.
How you live your dash.
What I wouldn't give to have it written out for me.
Where did God leave his book?
Why not out for me to see?
I could use it to look ahead.
I could read the ending page.
Like a novel written just for me;
I could see my final days.
Was I happy?
Did I live in love and grace?
Where did I end up?
Can I see my husband's face?
Did I make him happy?
Did I give him my whole heart?
When did our family come?
I would skip to all these parts.
If only this could happen;
if I could see my life's mistakes
and what it took to fix them,
what chances did I take?
What I wouldn't give to have it written out for me.
Where did God leave his book?
Why not out for me to see?
*"How you live your dash" is a nod to one of my favorite poems "The Dash" written by Linda Ellis*
Friday, December 27, 2013
Friday, March 29, 2013
For my amazing little sister
For my amazing little sister Micaela, always stand up for what you believe in but remember to always keep an open mind with people. Here's how I see it: I believe what I believe and you believe what you do. We may not agree but I will always listen and I expect the same from you. I will probably look up the "evidence" that you bring to a conversation and research your side and then my side again. If in the end I walk away agreeing with you, that's fine. If I walk away disagreeing with you and continue to believe what I think is right then, that's fine too. I won't be mean to you about it, think differently of you, or be hateful to your being. I might pull a Ron Burgandy and say "Agree to disagree. When in Rome", change the subject and then get some beers out of the fridge though.
Now, the reason for this post...My sister instagrammed the equality sign and the white cross on the field of red banner onto the same picture. She stated how she felt about it and then an ignorant person immediately attempted to railroad her- keyword: attempted. I say ignorant because she was unable to state any solid evidence for her argument nor was she willing to hear a view outside of her own. I didn't mean ignorant in the derogatory uneducated/unsophisticated sense that may apply to some out there in the world. After reading the feed I wanted to show my sister my support and share my take on the "issue" at hand. Unfortunately, my response was too long and it wouldn't let me post it. So, now it has made its way here....
"Came across this gem on your feed today :). Thought I'd help you out. Bear in mind, I'm not saying anyone is wrong nor am I attempting to change ones' beliefs. I'm just going to drop some knowledge... "you are choosing what portions of the Bible you want to obey", I really hope that by making that statement someone themselves is not doing the same thing. That being said, if that person is in fact not being hypocritical then I hope that they practice the following (remember, we shouldn't pick and choose): 1) don't store up material or wordly possessions (clothes, shoes, cars, money, etc). (Mt 6:19) The disciple can serve only one master and must choose between God and wealth (Mt 6:24). 2) invite strangers into your home. Feed them, water them, clothe them, nurse them to health, and visit them in prison. If you don't, then you can enjoy hanging out with the devil and his angels in his eternal fire (Mt 25:35-46). 3) lend money to your enemy without expecting repayment (Lk 6:35). 4) if you decide to host a meal, don't invite your friends, family, or wealthy neighbors. Rather, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. To ensure that you will not be repaid for your service (Lk 14: 12-14). 5) you should never eat or touch the flesh of pigs or water dwelling creatures that lack scales or fins-along with a plethora of other creatures that you probably don't eat anyway. Well maybe you do, I don't know. You should check the list to be sure. So, no bacon, leather or shellfish for you (Lv 11: 4-12). 6) if as a woman, you pray without your head covered you are very shameful. ( 1Cor 11: 5-6). Oh you scandalous sinner, you. 7) if a damsel is not a virgin on her wedding day then it is expected that an angry mob drag her back to her father's house where they should stone her. Until death. Because she's a whore. Husbands are supposed to check for that and take it to her father who takes it to the the elders of the city to investigate if he finds that she isn't. And by investigate, I mean they're going to get all up in her business (Dt 22: 20-21). 8) if you're a woman you are not allowed to teach or hold a position of power over a man. Let alone speak to one(1Tm 2:11-12). I hope the phrase, "shut your mouth and make me a sandwich, woman" doesn't offend you. The list goes on, don't tempt me. That being said, not following the above rules and many more unlisted is considered sinning. That bit covers your sinners argument and your "stop choosing what portions of the bible you want to obey" argument. That last one mostly because I'd be willing to bet you didn't choose those portions I listed from the bible to obey. Thereby nullifying that entire argument.
Now, considering the separation of religion and state, the voting about gay rights that is happening right now literally has nothing to do with religious "marriage". It's calling for the government to recognize the civil union between two people who love each other just like they do for a heterosexual mono or biracial couple. Nobody said anything about making your church marry the homosexuals. Thousands of heterosexual couples get married through the government daily, do you think that it really bugs them if your church isn't the one signing the paper? I mean, last time I checked, your religious entities aren't the ones who are handling my taxes, insurance, beneficiaries, name change, legal benefits, will, or the people who get to visit me in the hospital if I'm dead or dying. That would be the my own responsibility and if I don't happen to do the paper work then its the government's job-all of the above would fall to my family or spouse by default. So, if your lesbian lover of 20 years dies in a freak accident you are just shit-out-of-luck. You basically don't exist. These responsibilities are not governed by your religion. This movement that is happening right now is to recognize the civil rights and liberties of human beings not to recognize who they are sleeping with and whether or not someone's God will smite them for it.
However, if this government issue ever somehow makes its way through your religious building's blockaded doors, I don't agree with the feelings that you are saying God most certainly has about it. I've never seen your God or heard him -he definitely sounds a whole lot more unloving than mine;though I'm willing to bet they are one in the same- and I'm sure you haven't either. However, if you have, then feel free to stop me. That being said, I'm pretty sure you don't KNOW whether he would care or not if a gay couple marries under his name. I mean the bible was written thousands of years ago. By. Man. God didn't pen it in his own hand. How can you be certain he even said it. Were you there? Can I borrow your time machine? Man wrote it. Man said God spoke it. Man demanded you believe it. And now man uses it to spread hatred and condemn others by claiming that God most definitely feels that way too. Now those who are against this recent civil rights movement are forcing their religious "moral"-I use quotes because I don't agree with what they consider moral, obviously - views down my throat. All because they somehow think that if someone they don't even know is allowed to get married to another someone they don't know by way of the government, that in some direct way their own religious lives and values will be disastrously affected. They somehow think it is morally acceptable to value their own status, life, well being, and liberties above another human being. Well, I don't. I don't agree with them and they don't agree with me but they can believe what they want as I believe what I do. I believe that MY God loves all beings. MY God values every life. MY God welcomes every sinner (which is everyone, hetero or homo, by the way). MY God would be disgusted at the morally corrupt behavior of people who are calling themselves Christians-and evidently their God feels that way toward me- but MY God would love them anyway. The strange thing is, as a Christian, MY God IS your God. So, what happens now?"
Now, the reason for this post...My sister instagrammed the equality sign and the white cross on the field of red banner onto the same picture. She stated how she felt about it and then an ignorant person immediately attempted to railroad her- keyword: attempted. I say ignorant because she was unable to state any solid evidence for her argument nor was she willing to hear a view outside of her own. I didn't mean ignorant in the derogatory uneducated/unsophisticated sense that may apply to some out there in the world. After reading the feed I wanted to show my sister my support and share my take on the "issue" at hand. Unfortunately, my response was too long and it wouldn't let me post it. So, now it has made its way here....
"Came across this gem on your feed today :). Thought I'd help you out. Bear in mind, I'm not saying anyone is wrong nor am I attempting to change ones' beliefs. I'm just going to drop some knowledge... "you are choosing what portions of the Bible you want to obey", I really hope that by making that statement someone themselves is not doing the same thing. That being said, if that person is in fact not being hypocritical then I hope that they practice the following (remember, we shouldn't pick and choose): 1) don't store up material or wordly possessions (clothes, shoes, cars, money, etc). (Mt 6:19) The disciple can serve only one master and must choose between God and wealth (Mt 6:24). 2) invite strangers into your home. Feed them, water them, clothe them, nurse them to health, and visit them in prison. If you don't, then you can enjoy hanging out with the devil and his angels in his eternal fire (Mt 25:35-46). 3) lend money to your enemy without expecting repayment (Lk 6:35). 4) if you decide to host a meal, don't invite your friends, family, or wealthy neighbors. Rather, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. To ensure that you will not be repaid for your service (Lk 14: 12-14). 5) you should never eat or touch the flesh of pigs or water dwelling creatures that lack scales or fins-along with a plethora of other creatures that you probably don't eat anyway. Well maybe you do, I don't know. You should check the list to be sure. So, no bacon, leather or shellfish for you (Lv 11: 4-12). 6) if as a woman, you pray without your head covered you are very shameful. ( 1Cor 11: 5-6). Oh you scandalous sinner, you. 7) if a damsel is not a virgin on her wedding day then it is expected that an angry mob drag her back to her father's house where they should stone her. Until death. Because she's a whore. Husbands are supposed to check for that and take it to her father who takes it to the the elders of the city to investigate if he finds that she isn't. And by investigate, I mean they're going to get all up in her business (Dt 22: 20-21). 8) if you're a woman you are not allowed to teach or hold a position of power over a man. Let alone speak to one(1Tm 2:11-12). I hope the phrase, "shut your mouth and make me a sandwich, woman" doesn't offend you. The list goes on, don't tempt me. That being said, not following the above rules and many more unlisted is considered sinning. That bit covers your sinners argument and your "stop choosing what portions of the bible you want to obey" argument. That last one mostly because I'd be willing to bet you didn't choose those portions I listed from the bible to obey. Thereby nullifying that entire argument.
Now, considering the separation of religion and state, the voting about gay rights that is happening right now literally has nothing to do with religious "marriage". It's calling for the government to recognize the civil union between two people who love each other just like they do for a heterosexual mono or biracial couple. Nobody said anything about making your church marry the homosexuals. Thousands of heterosexual couples get married through the government daily, do you think that it really bugs them if your church isn't the one signing the paper? I mean, last time I checked, your religious entities aren't the ones who are handling my taxes, insurance, beneficiaries, name change, legal benefits, will, or the people who get to visit me in the hospital if I'm dead or dying. That would be the my own responsibility and if I don't happen to do the paper work then its the government's job-all of the above would fall to my family or spouse by default. So, if your lesbian lover of 20 years dies in a freak accident you are just shit-out-of-luck. You basically don't exist. These responsibilities are not governed by your religion. This movement that is happening right now is to recognize the civil rights and liberties of human beings not to recognize who they are sleeping with and whether or not someone's God will smite them for it.
However, if this government issue ever somehow makes its way through your religious building's blockaded doors, I don't agree with the feelings that you are saying God most certainly has about it. I've never seen your God or heard him -he definitely sounds a whole lot more unloving than mine;though I'm willing to bet they are one in the same- and I'm sure you haven't either. However, if you have, then feel free to stop me. That being said, I'm pretty sure you don't KNOW whether he would care or not if a gay couple marries under his name. I mean the bible was written thousands of years ago. By. Man. God didn't pen it in his own hand. How can you be certain he even said it. Were you there? Can I borrow your time machine? Man wrote it. Man said God spoke it. Man demanded you believe it. And now man uses it to spread hatred and condemn others by claiming that God most definitely feels that way too. Now those who are against this recent civil rights movement are forcing their religious "moral"-I use quotes because I don't agree with what they consider moral, obviously - views down my throat. All because they somehow think that if someone they don't even know is allowed to get married to another someone they don't know by way of the government, that in some direct way their own religious lives and values will be disastrously affected. They somehow think it is morally acceptable to value their own status, life, well being, and liberties above another human being. Well, I don't. I don't agree with them and they don't agree with me but they can believe what they want as I believe what I do. I believe that MY God loves all beings. MY God values every life. MY God welcomes every sinner (which is everyone, hetero or homo, by the way). MY God would be disgusted at the morally corrupt behavior of people who are calling themselves Christians-and evidently their God feels that way toward me- but MY God would love them anyway. The strange thing is, as a Christian, MY God IS your God. So, what happens now?"
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