“Creating our Dream” what a nondiscriminating world would look like.

 

Unconditional Love is the first thought that I have.  Unconditional love to support the Choice that each of us makes using the free will God has granted us all. It is how we react to those around us or rather how we individually react to the reactions of those around us that is important.  Do we still give ‘unconditional love’ to those whose choice it is to react so negatively to us?

 

The three terms I use are Unconditional love, choice and reaction. 

 

In a nondiscriminating world my parents and family continue to give me not only unconditional love but also support and guidance as I live my daily life.  My employer and co-workers would support the person performing the job and respect the talent of the individual, helping to grow the person.  There would be no need of special clubs and organizations where support is provided to not only me but to my family members and friends. 

 

Think of how wonderful it would be to live in a world where there is no thought given to whether or not someone will accept me as just a person.  Perhaps as I walk into a room there would be no underlying fear of how others are about to react to me.  Perhaps in their heart is unconditional love and the knowledge within that I am only another spiritual being having a human experience and that my path on this journey is just different than their own.  Perhaps there is even respect for the choice that was made.  Perhaps there is realization of the agony and trepidation that went into the choice.. Or even better is that perhaps families, children, occupations, homes, lifestyles didn’t have to be given up because the choice made was respected and tolerated in a nonhomophobic, nondiscriminating world.

 

While I have no choice about who and/or what I am down deep inside of myself, I do have choice in how I present my inner self to the world.  It would be wonderful if my parents and other family members had the degree of unconditional love necessary to accept me and allow me to live among them as their child or as their sibling.

 

 

 

 

But even though this isn’t a perfect world, I have to look at what I have and not at what I don’t have.  I have to look at what is positive and build on that or I’ll never see the “Dream” world I seek.  I already live in my dream world in so many ways.  This congregation has accepted me from the day I walked in the doors as a valued member.  This congregation has supported me in my efforts to live my life here in Bloomington and has become much like a surrogate family as kindnesses have been extended and friendships formed.  I have loving support from my children and open acceptance from all that I come in contact with.  I am respected enough by the academic community that I am sought after as a lecturer and panel member to assist the students learn more of themselves and those around them in the areas of human sexuality, sociology and psychology.  I have the love of friends and the support of those that truly care about my well being and about me. 

 

I have made my choice in life as to how I present myself to the world and I am supported lovingly and nurtured with unconditional love by those I have chosen to surround myself with.  I have never had a disparaging word said to my face within this community I choose to call home.  I remain here to begin building for others a home, a community where there is unconditional love for the choice made and I am allowed to react from the heart in a positive, growing manner that facilitates open-mindedness in those around me. As stereotypes and barriers are broken down and hearts are opened up, unconditional love is shared, if only for that moment.

 

Mr. Ralph Marston recently wrote a message concerning ‘Crystal Clear Vision’. He states that the more profound the challenge that faces you, the more it clarifies your vision.  If something offends you, or disturbs you, or angers you, or disgusts you, ask yourself why.  Why does it conflict with your vision of how life should be?  The things that elicit a negative response in you can help you to understand and strengthen your own positive vision.     Only when your vision is subject to the challenges and pressures of life, does it become clear, strong and unyielding.  Whatever makes you deeply uncomfortable touches your vision and serves to clarify your very essence.   Let the challenges bring out your best.

 

Make this world the world of ‘our’ dreams and live as if there is no discrimination or homophobic behavior that can’t be overcome by presenting our best foot forward.  Thank You