occupational inspiration

saydi was inspired as to her future occupation. a few days ago while crossing the street to school under the direction of the crossing guard, the children escaped certain death from a lady speeding through the intersection. as speeder closed in on the group, the crossing guard jumped forward and let out a scream and holler that Saydi had never heard before. She was very impressed. that was the first time she had seen the crossing guard in defensive action. As we calmed down and finished the walk to school, Saydi told me her observations and said, that's what I could be when I grow up. I said you mean a crossing guard? and she said yes! and I laughed at the instant realization of what she meant and asked 'why, because you can scream?" and she said Yup!!

i dont need much.

haircuts. walks in the rain. to notice my breath on a cold morning. to hold a chicken. to wash a stray dog before returning it to its owner. to have giggle fests with joseph. simplicity. awareness bordering on thankfulness for things that were. acceptance that borders on appreciation for things that are. dreams bordering on reality for what can be. to hold my fellow beings in my heart. to notice them. to listen to them. with faith and love to do all that is possible to achieve the impossible.

nothing much to say

enjoying the gifts of family. getting kids settled in school and wondering about how i'm doing as a parent. trying to make gardening connections and realizing more of the fullness of life. each small step toward understanding love is encouraging. someone recently told me they believe that true love should never justify an act of love just because it 'feels good'........so would an act of love be justified just because it 'feels bad'? There is a subtle difference between a good feeling and feeling good. and a bad feeling and feeling bad. But here is something else. Enjoyable physical responses (attractions, both sexual and non-sexual) are separate from our choice to create a nurturing environment for those attractions to be lovingly shared with others. Those responses and environment is unique for every person.

The first commandment is to love God and the second to love ourselves and others. Loving others as ourselves first takes noticing what even makes us who we are. How did we develop our attractions and desires to share our lives with others? Why would we think to deny that same process and gift to those whose only difference is that they are same-sex attraced? As opposite sex attracted individuals we allow ourselves a lifetime to understand our own sexual attractions. In fact it is socially acceptable and expected and somewhat necessary that we will date, marry and raise families before completely understanding our sexuality, but we accuse same sex attracted individuals of not understanding their sexuality as a reason to deny them socially equal opportunities to date, marry and have families with an adult of their choosing.

If the answer is in loving others as ourselves, then we must do that.