Sharing Love

Although I'm entering into the last phase of preparations for my upcoming exam, I wanted to write just a brief reflection on everything that's happening in Mexico and in the world with the swine flu outbreak.

For me and I know for many others as well these events have reminded us of all the loved ones, family, and friends many of us have in Mexico, for whom we're sending out thoughts and prayers. Additionally, events like these also remind us of how precious life really is - each day is a gift, a time to be cherished, and an opportunity to find genuine peace and happiness in moving beyond ourselves into solidarity with others.

In my own life, I give thanks for family and friends both near and far. I also give thanks for the opportunity to be living in a way that accords with my conscience - serving in ministry and in marriage and no longer living in the closet and, in doing so, discovering anew each day God's goodness, compassion, and love.

Blessings and wishes of peace to all and especially for physical, emotional, and spiritual healing in our churches and places of worship and in our world.

Padre Chuck

United in Prayer

These past few weeks and months have felt very difficult and challenging it seems for so many people in our world. Economies are weakening, wars are threatening, and now there is significant concern about the new strain of flu spreading in Mexico and other parts of the world. As if that weren't enough, just this morning a strong earthquake was felt in Mexico City, frightening an already severely tried city and nation.

Although there's little concretely that most of us can do, it does strike me that at times like these we're reminded of what's most important in life and that life itself is a gift to be cherished each day. In that spirit, in the Spirit of goodness and compassion that unites us all, no matter what our differences, I offer my own prayers for Mexico and for our world this morning. I pray for peace and healing, for consolation and comfort, for an end to violence and disease and for renewed hope.

May this song to Our Lady of Guadalupe serve as a reminder of how we're all connected and that, despite the challenges we all face, we're surrounded by a love that's stronger than any fear, despair, or sadness and that is capable of leading us to a place of healing, renewal and rebirth in our lives and in our world.

Blessings and peace,

Padre Chuck

Fighting Hate

For today's entry I'd like to call attention to a reality that's still very much present even here in the U.S. - hate crimes against LGBT people. As this video from Judy Shepard, the mother of Matthew Shepard (a young man who was brutally murdered for being gay just over 10 years ago) shows, this issue is not going away and requires our action.

May God strengthen us all and help us to fight hate through non-violent action in our own families, communities, cities and countries.

Peace,

Padre Chuck

And God Became Flesh

Today's musical reflection, sung by soprano Kathleen Battle, comes from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Great Mass. It's one of the most beautiful settings ever written of the section of the Nicene Creed (one of several normative statements of Christian belief) in which those of us who are Christian proclaim our belief in the Incarnation - that God became flesh and dwelt among us.

For me this music has always meant a great deal, reminding me of God's love and the wonders of thinking that God could love us so much as to want to live in solidarity with us. However, there was always a certain part of this belief that I don't think I could ever quite fully accept - namely, that God might actually love and proclaim the goodness of my own human flesh, of my embodiedness, of my own experience of feeling attracted to people of the same sex.

For so long I thought Christ himself and many others could celebrate their bodies but that since I was somehow "disordered" I couldn't. However, thanks be to God, it is my firm belief and conviction that Christ broke through that self-hatred in me and finally enabled me to realize that there's nothing wrong with me. Indeed, because my attractions are part of who I am as someone made in the image and likeness of a God who cannot be bound by any of the categories or constructs we try to impose on reality, those attractions are therefore a manifestation of God's love and are good.

For that reason, I am deeply proud to profess again today the words of the Creed - that God became flesh and dwelt among us; that we have seen God's grace and truth living among us in Christ; that in our bodies, our souls, our minds, hearts, and spirits, the glory of God is indeed the human being fully alive.

As I also remember the fifth anniversary of my ordination this weekend, I do so with gratitude for this truth in which I believe - that God came among us as a human being and that we are each free to live the life we are called to by God. In my own life, I give thanks to God for my call to serve others and also love another person in marriage. At the same time I also wish peace, good will, freedom, blessings, and joy to all, whatever our individual callings may be.

With gratitude,
Padre Chuck

Separate is Not Equal

This video compilation in celebration of the recent Iowa Supreme Court ruling in favor of same-sex marriage is a fitting way to celebrate some recent good new in the fight for equality. Although there's still a long way to go, it's encouraging to see good news like this and also the recent decisions in Vermont and now possibly in New York as well. Although there's a lot that could be said here, I think it's best summed up by Rachel Maddow: "Separate is not equal"!

Peace,
Padre Chuck

Reconciling Faith and Identity

As someone who believes sincerely in God and at the same time knows that the language sometimes invoked in God's name against LGBT people is wrong, it feels at times like I'm caught in the middle. I want to affirm my faith and yet I'm persistently saddened by examples of Christians and other religious people who refuse to open their minds and hearts to the possibility that God just might love people as they are.

Thankfully, because I've had a good deal of theological education and experience in deepening my spiritual life, I've been able to find the resources I need to reconcile these two aspects of my life and find peace in loving and serving God and affirming my own identity. However, so many other LGBT people have not had those chances. So many live in fear and guilt, thinking they're somehow evil or disordered or that they can never have a relationship with God if they're true to who they are.

Sadly, few officials in many of our churches seem to realize this and the needless suffering and oppression of our own people continues. However, as this article on Christianity and Homosexuality shows, there are rays of light and hope out there. Wherever any of us may find ourselves, it is possible to stand up for our sisters and brothers and celebrate the beautiful diversity of God's creation.

May the Spirit of love touch each of us in this Easter season, help us to overcome our fears and ignorance and empower us to be instruments in letting those who are held captive - even in our churches and places of worship - go free.

Blessings,
Padre Chuck

Easter Sunday

Today Christians commemorate the Resurrection of Christ from the dead - a celebration of the triumph of life over death, of love over hate, of hope over despair. This Easter I feel very personally the power of the Resurrection in my own life. For many years I was afraid that that God could not love me if I admitted who I really am. I was scared of the truth and worried that others might somehow find out and reveal my secret.

Today, by contrast, I feel so very different. Granted, many challenges within our churches, places of worship and society in general still face those of us who have discovered it's okay to be who we really are. Still, what a difference, just knowing that I can live my vocation to ordained ministry and to marriage as well as my identity before God and do so in the context of support, encouragement, and solidarity from family, friends, and a supportive community. An amazing experience of the Resurrection, indeed!

Many blessings and good wishes to all for a very Happy Easter as we celebrate the gifts of new life, hope, and peace available to us in every moment from God.

Padre Chuck

Love Overcoming Borders

Today's reflection comes from a couple who are separated by great distances due to the injustice of current U.S. laws, which discriminate against same-sex couples and deny U.S. citizens many of their constitutional rights. May situations like these awaken more and more of us to the absurdity and injustice of denying to same-sex couples the right to commit to each other. Likewise, may the love these same couples show in spite of the obstacles placed before them inspire all of us to recommit ourselves to loving and caring for our our own families, loved ones and friends.

Peace,
Padre Chuck

The Right to Love

The couple in this video makes quite a compelling argument in favor of marriage equality. As they put it, how could some people presume to try and take away others' rights to marry and love another person and at the same time do nothing to support marriages that already exist?

In other words, how could two people's desire to commit to one another do anything but bring greater hope, peace, and stability to society? How could it possibly harm anyone else, other than potentially challenging their ingrained prejudices? As this family shows, loving same-sex couples are actually benefiting society through their love for their children. May God's Spirit awaken more of us to this truth and free us from the bonds of prejudice that still afflict so many minds and hearts.

Peace,
Padre Chuck

P.S. - The good news from Iowa this past week about the approval of marriage equality there is a hopeful sign, though the fight continues both there and throughout the country and the world.

Accepting Us For Who We Are

This couple's story is also a powerful witness against the senseless prejudice and ignorance that continue to prevent loving LGBT couples from proclaiming their devotion to each other in marriage. May God grant us all strength and courage to continue the non-violent fight not only for equal rights but also for the restoration of the dignity of religion and faith, both of which have been badly damaged and discredited by those who persist in remaining closed to the liberating witness of love in action in couples and families like this one.

Peace,
Padre Chuck