An "Alternative" Post

I just erased an entire post. Why? Because I was focusing on all the bad things. Here's the summary:

Took a big step in filing for disability today. It's not going to be easy and things are going to be tight. Really going to miss working. Really really going to miss a lot of the people I currently work with. They've become a family. But it's what I have to do.

In other news, I recently reunited (just online really) with someone I haven't seen in 20 years. She's gay. I didn't know that the last time I saw her. I knew her brother was. He didn't know it then but does now. I don't know if she knew it or not.

But she said something to me. She said, "I would like to thank you for your support in my alternative lifestyle. It means a lot to know that someone in my family understands."

Two things: First, I hate the term "alternative lifestyle". It states that there's something not normal about your life. Your life is normal. An actual "alternative lifestyle" would involve wearing monkey skins and drinking nothing but nicotine based beverages. That's alternative.
Secondly, I know it's fairly common but how does a family not understand? How do they not at least pretend to understand? This is your sister, your daughter... your family! It more than irritates me.

I posted something on Facebook the other day that I'll summarize here. Even if you believe all the things you think and say about gay people are true. You still have a responsibility to speak truth in love. And that's not just for gay people. Whatever you believe to be true about black people, Jewish people, fat people, Christians, Muslims... any group... if you're going to try to get someone to understand you, you have to speak in love.

"No prolonged infancies among us, please. We'll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love." Ephesians 4:14-16 (The Message)