“So life is hard and no one understands why For the Lord, thy God, knows the path we must take as He carefully orchestrates us like the maestro of a symphony, and it is up to us which instrument we play- eternal life or damnatation.”
So I finished the book (Warring in my members ) that I was working on this weekend, it is a very short and simple book but it was also very deep and profound! This book cause me to think, made me want to cry, and reminded me that I am not the only one struggling with something.
The truth is there is a war going on in all of us! Well I defiantly know that I do, the me that I want to be is constantly in battle with the me that I am. I truly think that it is quite difficult being Christian at times because I don’t believe that it is natural. What comes naturally to us I believe are the things that Christianity frowns upon, the things that are instinctive. I believe that sexuality is natural; the need to be loved and belong is natural. Well maybe I am being to hard on Christianity because the truth is that it is not against things that are unnatural it is just all about timing, and I have a huge problem with timing!
Anyway, this book dealt with the wars that go on in the personal lives of three Christian young women. The secrets that they carry that they are not even able to disclose to their nearest and dearest friend because the truth is no matter how much they say they don’t your friends judge you and you judge the (just a lil). It reminded me that this walk is a personal one and no matter what relationships we have the decisions that we make are all about us. So at the end of the day even though we feel bad about some of the decisions we make, we still need to make a decision. When it is all over where do we want to end up?
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Rediscovery Update
Happy Thanksgiving everyone I just wanted to take time out on this day of thanks to thank God for continuing his work in me. I also wanted to touch basis with you all and tell you about my progress on my goals as the years is almost over.
I am currently reading 3 books (any normal person would read one at a time but hey what can I say I am not nor never have been normal)
Soooo I have been taking LOTS of pictures…I did a pregnant photo shoot with my beautiful friend Jojo. We had soooo much fun, although it was a great deal of work….(the real work is actually developing the film UGH)
I missed one week of Church and might have missed last week because I got there right before they were about to say the benediction. However, I was tricked into going to a Sabbath dinner when I met lots of great people and had many jokes (alone with lusting after a married grandfather lol)
I have been slacking on running because my schedule has recently changed but I will be getting back in the swing of things very soon!
I have not been going on expensive dates with myself because I am broke but I have been taking walks and just taking time to listen to myself and enjoy me time alone.
You all can see how I have been doing with writing more….I actually did write a poem but I need to get the balls to actually share that with the world
I am in the process of getting tickets for a musical and a play that I want to see
And last but not least….dealing with Ronald, Rudy and Jojo on a daily basis I laugh until I almost pee myself! Thank you guys I love you :D
I am currently reading 3 books (any normal person would read one at a time but hey what can I say I am not nor never have been normal)
Soooo I have been taking LOTS of pictures…I did a pregnant photo shoot with my beautiful friend Jojo. We had soooo much fun, although it was a great deal of work….(the real work is actually developing the film UGH)
I missed one week of Church and might have missed last week because I got there right before they were about to say the benediction. However, I was tricked into going to a Sabbath dinner when I met lots of great people and had many jokes (alone with lusting after a married grandfather lol)
I have been slacking on running because my schedule has recently changed but I will be getting back in the swing of things very soon!
I have not been going on expensive dates with myself because I am broke but I have been taking walks and just taking time to listen to myself and enjoy me time alone.
You all can see how I have been doing with writing more….I actually did write a poem but I need to get the balls to actually share that with the world
I am in the process of getting tickets for a musical and a play that I want to see
And last but not least….dealing with Ronald, Rudy and Jojo on a daily basis I laugh until I almost pee myself! Thank you guys I love you :D
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
I am a running failure
So real quick, about goal five and finishing 3 miles 4 times a week. UGH!!! I have been failing! There is no reason for my failure except for the fact that I don't feel like. It is annoying also becuase I can see my weight increasing and I can feel myself getting slugish... I am gonna be motivated the remainder of this week! I am going to finish my 3 miles and I have exactly 4 days left in the week. Wish me luck!
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Out of the mouth of Babes
So I did not spend this Sunday out of my house culturing myself however, I did attend a soccer game. This was a not an ordinary soccer game but a game of my favorite 4 year old!!! Hummmm what can I say about it???? I was able to take about 5 pictures before he came running off the field (in the middle of the game mind you) crying. Of course I was very confused but according to him "Aunty Kanita's camera is making me nervous" *Sigh* so no more pictures of the game and about 30 mins of a temper tantrum...
So we are in the car after he finally calms down, we are driving past an area that looked familiar to him and he said "Mommy, isnt that where (some random person) dived into the water?" To which his mother replied "Not honey, she didn't dive that's where she was baptized, she was baptized why honey? Because she gave what?" And the brilliant 4 year old answered "Because she gave her life to Jesus." But here is the zingger! Here is what really got me..... I then asked him "Are you going to give you life to Jesus?" His answer to that question was one of the most deep and profound questions I have ever been asked, he responded "NO, ARE YOU?"
Wow, what a great question! Am I? When am I really going to give my life to Jesus and stop playing and pretending Christianity? When am I going to stop acting like or saying that Jesus is Lord of my life and not everything else that I put before him in my life...
Who would have though that my day at the soccer field would be a deep and spiritual one? I guess it was rightly said Out of the mouths of babes.
So we are in the car after he finally calms down, we are driving past an area that looked familiar to him and he said "Mommy, isnt that where (some random person) dived into the water?" To which his mother replied "Not honey, she didn't dive that's where she was baptized, she was baptized why honey? Because she gave what?" And the brilliant 4 year old answered "Because she gave her life to Jesus." But here is the zingger! Here is what really got me..... I then asked him "Are you going to give you life to Jesus?" His answer to that question was one of the most deep and profound questions I have ever been asked, he responded "NO, ARE YOU?"
Wow, what a great question! Am I? When am I really going to give my life to Jesus and stop playing and pretending Christianity? When am I going to stop acting like or saying that Jesus is Lord of my life and not everything else that I put before him in my life...
Who would have though that my day at the soccer field would be a deep and spiritual one? I guess it was rightly said Out of the mouths of babes.
NO MORE EXCUSSES
Wow, wow, wow, as I sit here and write I am filled with an abundance of emotions. I sit and stare at my television in awe! In a time were black people were reduced to “colored only” section still roam the earth. When individuals who marched with Martin and stood with Malcolm and remember a time when crosses were burnt in the front porch are breathing the same air as I, we have a BLACK PRESEDENT!
On man, this means so much, as I write with tears in my eyes I remember my parents telling me “Kanita you can be what ever you want to be as long as you set your mind to it.” They also told me “Kanita you have two things against you in this world, you are a woman and you are black, you must ALWAYS work harder then the next person to achieve your goals.” I remember listening to my parents, I heard and I understood but I honestly did not believe. I knew that I lived in a land or racism and some privileges would not be extended to me because unfortunately I was born with two strikes I am a WOMAN and I am BLACK.
As I sit in MY living room a 27 year old with a masters degree, as I process the events that have just taken place I can only think of one thing. While there are so many conclusions and feelings to be derived from this historic event, one that I NEVER thought I would be alive to see, the one I want to verbalize and express is NO MORE EXCUSSES!!!!
I can no longer make excuses for my failures; YOU can no longer make excuses for your failures! Who cares that you are black? It does not matter that some people hate you because of the color of your skin or because of your sex. What matters is that you PUT IN THE WORK! Nothing worth getting in this world will come easy, everything MUST be worked for and we are no longer about to pull the race card. Tear it up! Burn it! Do what ever you need to do but DO SOMETHING because we can! PRESIDENT OBAMA has proven that it us! Yes WE can! WE CAN!!! WE CAN DO IT ALL! WE CAN DO ANYTHING WE SET OUT MINDS TO!
I did not think that day would happen in my lifetime but what I have learned on November 4, 2008 that I will share with everyone I know is that we have NO MORE EXCUSSES!
On man, this means so much, as I write with tears in my eyes I remember my parents telling me “Kanita you can be what ever you want to be as long as you set your mind to it.” They also told me “Kanita you have two things against you in this world, you are a woman and you are black, you must ALWAYS work harder then the next person to achieve your goals.” I remember listening to my parents, I heard and I understood but I honestly did not believe. I knew that I lived in a land or racism and some privileges would not be extended to me because unfortunately I was born with two strikes I am a WOMAN and I am BLACK.
As I sit in MY living room a 27 year old with a masters degree, as I process the events that have just taken place I can only think of one thing. While there are so many conclusions and feelings to be derived from this historic event, one that I NEVER thought I would be alive to see, the one I want to verbalize and express is NO MORE EXCUSSES!!!!
I can no longer make excuses for my failures; YOU can no longer make excuses for your failures! Who cares that you are black? It does not matter that some people hate you because of the color of your skin or because of your sex. What matters is that you PUT IN THE WORK! Nothing worth getting in this world will come easy, everything MUST be worked for and we are no longer about to pull the race card. Tear it up! Burn it! Do what ever you need to do but DO SOMETHING because we can! PRESIDENT OBAMA has proven that it us! Yes WE can! WE CAN!!! WE CAN DO IT ALL! WE CAN DO ANYTHING WE SET OUT MINDS TO!
I did not think that day would happen in my lifetime but what I have learned on November 4, 2008 that I will share with everyone I know is that we have NO MORE EXCUSSES!
Día de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead)
So in the attempts to culture myself (Goal #3) I decided to attend a Dia de los Muertos event that my local photography held. On my way to this event I was on the telephone with my father who QUICKLY verbalized that I should turn my car around and stay away from “that devilish place because they don’t believe in God” For those of you who are not familiar with that holiday (as I wasn’t) here is a quick background.
Dia de los Muertos in is a holiday celebrated mainly in Mexico and by people of Mexican heritage living in the US and Canada. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and relatives who have died. The celebration occurs on the 2nd of November. Traditions include building private altars honoring the deceased, using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed, and visiting graves with these as gifts.
The Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico can be traced back to the indigenous peoples such as the Olmec, Zapotec, Mixtec, Mexican, Aztec, Maya, P'urhépecha, and Totonac. Rituals celebrating the deaths of ancestors have been observed by these civilizations perhaps for as long as 2500–3000 years. In the pre-Hispanic era, it was common to keep skulls as trophies and display them during the rituals to symbolize death and rebirth.
I decided to attend this event because I honestly thought that it would provide me the opportunity to take some great pictures for my final in my photography class, however, I gained a lot more. This year has been a year of great loose for me, it seemed as if every time I turned around someone else died. GAAAAAA why? Why does everyone have to die at the same time? WHY do I live and California and have not been able to say goodbye to those whom I have loved and lost over in the East Coast?
This adventure provided me the opportunity to think of those whom I have lost, the good times we had, as come to point of peace with every loss in my life!
It was very interesting to see the mothers, father, and children with their faces panted and actually talking about their deceased loved ones. WOW that is something that my family does not do ☹ once your dead you are dead, one will be hard pressed to hear the individuals name mentioned again. I don’t like that, I am a talker a sentimental individual I need to verbalize in order to process, I need to talk to keep from forgetting!
Dia de los Muertos was a great experience for me, it reminded me that it is ok to be me, it is ok for me to speak the names of those I have loved and lost and that there are others like me! Don’t get me wrong it was a lil freaky with all the skulls, it being dark and me being alone but it taught me that I have to celebrate life and death how I need to and not how my parents, families or friends think I should.
Sometimes it is so easy to live your life based on the way you were raised or because of the influences of those people surrounding you, however I am ME, I think like ME, I feel like ME and I act like ME! It is ok for ME to be Me and you to be you and for us to still love each other!
Dia de los Muertos in is a holiday celebrated mainly in Mexico and by people of Mexican heritage living in the US and Canada. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and relatives who have died. The celebration occurs on the 2nd of November. Traditions include building private altars honoring the deceased, using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed, and visiting graves with these as gifts.
The Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico can be traced back to the indigenous peoples such as the Olmec, Zapotec, Mixtec, Mexican, Aztec, Maya, P'urhépecha, and Totonac. Rituals celebrating the deaths of ancestors have been observed by these civilizations perhaps for as long as 2500–3000 years. In the pre-Hispanic era, it was common to keep skulls as trophies and display them during the rituals to symbolize death and rebirth.
I decided to attend this event because I honestly thought that it would provide me the opportunity to take some great pictures for my final in my photography class, however, I gained a lot more. This year has been a year of great loose for me, it seemed as if every time I turned around someone else died. GAAAAAA why? Why does everyone have to die at the same time? WHY do I live and California and have not been able to say goodbye to those whom I have loved and lost over in the East Coast?
This adventure provided me the opportunity to think of those whom I have lost, the good times we had, as come to point of peace with every loss in my life!
It was very interesting to see the mothers, father, and children with their faces panted and actually talking about their deceased loved ones. WOW that is something that my family does not do ☹ once your dead you are dead, one will be hard pressed to hear the individuals name mentioned again. I don’t like that, I am a talker a sentimental individual I need to verbalize in order to process, I need to talk to keep from forgetting!
Dia de los Muertos was a great experience for me, it reminded me that it is ok to be me, it is ok for me to speak the names of those I have loved and lost and that there are others like me! Don’t get me wrong it was a lil freaky with all the skulls, it being dark and me being alone but it taught me that I have to celebrate life and death how I need to and not how my parents, families or friends think I should.
Sometimes it is so easy to live your life based on the way you were raised or because of the influences of those people surrounding you, however I am ME, I think like ME, I feel like ME and I act like ME! It is ok for ME to be Me and you to be you and for us to still love each other!
Rediscovering Kanita
So I woke up this morning and realized that I was alone, no I am not lonely (not really anyway) I am just alone! The only person that I can really rely on and count on in this life is myself (and God of course). So with this new found knowledge I started to think “what now?” Do I try to find people to surround myself with so that I am no longer alone? I really don’t think that is the answer, I think that answer is to optimize my aloneness and really, truly find happiness internally.
So recently (and currently) a classmate from undergrad (who I JUST realized has a lot in common with me) has embarked on a journey, I have begun thinking to myself “that sounds great! I need to go on a life Journey; I need to be comfortable in my OWN skin regardless of who is around.” I have been telling myself for a while that I need to work on my life goals and work on me. So why now you ask? Why in this Way? WELL…. First of all I was truly inspired by this classmate who has made her journey public, (while very nerve racking) it gives you accountability, you have the WHOLE facebook community to answer to. My second reason for choosing now is my pseudo relationship; I won’t give you all of the information but I am currently in a pseudo relationship (and have been for 6mts) with a man who was confessed with his mouth that he is in love with me. Hummmmmmmmm I say “confessed with his mouth” because his actions have not (recently anyway) backed up those three words that he loves to tell me. The sad part is I find myself making excuses for why his MO has changed since he declared his undying love for me; the truth is that it doesn’t matter. What matters is that I continue to subject myself to secondary treatment, I am (and have never been) a secondary person.
For the past year my mother has continued to tell me “you used to be amazing, extraordinary, now you are just common.” WOW!!!!!!!! Every time she says that to me my heart breaks, I get angry at her, I think that she is being rude and say “well you just don’t know me anymore, you think you do but you don’t.” However, the truth is I don’t know me anymore! I have become this person who settles….YIKES, who does that? The Kanita who my mom remembers isn’t the Kanita who I like to think I am, but my actions are totally saying something different! My actions are screaming “I don’t deserve the best so you don’t have to give it to me” and that is the total OPPISITE of true!!! I am awesome, wonderful, smart, funny, intelligent, kind, loving, giving, (well you get the point) so why am allowing this “pseudo” this “situation” to treat me like I need him? Like I don’t deserve the royal treatment that he once bestowed on me (Don’t get me wrong I TRULY care about this individual or I would not have been talking to him for 6mts…YIKES…it has been 6mts, he has a good part of my heart, but the challenge is he does not realize that he is not treating my heart as well as it deserves to be).
But I digress, this is not about him (for confidentiality we will just call him pseudo from now on LOL) It is not about my mother, it is about ME and my mind set, about what I feel like I am worth. I know my worth however, I am acting like someone who is “desperate for love” and NOTHING is further from the truth!
So to come up with my goals to bring me back to this wonderful person who my mother keeps telling me about…hummmmmmm ( Julie this is a lot harder then I thought, I think I will steal some of yours since we are soul mates anyway :D)
Ok friends so I am on this Journey to rediscover the Kanita that my mom longs for and I am asking you all to be my accountability partners, I am asking you all because I know you love me and I know you want the best for me!
This is what I will be working on from now until the end of the year…
1) Read 4 books
2) Date myself once a week
3) Spend Sunday’s out of the house culturing myself / taking pictures
4) Go to church every week unless I am sick (I might need you all to help me with this)
5) Finish 3 miles at least 4 times a week
6) Start writing again
7) Laugh everyday
8) Attend at least 2 plays
So recently (and currently) a classmate from undergrad (who I JUST realized has a lot in common with me) has embarked on a journey, I have begun thinking to myself “that sounds great! I need to go on a life Journey; I need to be comfortable in my OWN skin regardless of who is around.” I have been telling myself for a while that I need to work on my life goals and work on me. So why now you ask? Why in this Way? WELL…. First of all I was truly inspired by this classmate who has made her journey public, (while very nerve racking) it gives you accountability, you have the WHOLE facebook community to answer to. My second reason for choosing now is my pseudo relationship; I won’t give you all of the information but I am currently in a pseudo relationship (and have been for 6mts) with a man who was confessed with his mouth that he is in love with me. Hummmmmmmmm I say “confessed with his mouth” because his actions have not (recently anyway) backed up those three words that he loves to tell me. The sad part is I find myself making excuses for why his MO has changed since he declared his undying love for me; the truth is that it doesn’t matter. What matters is that I continue to subject myself to secondary treatment, I am (and have never been) a secondary person.
For the past year my mother has continued to tell me “you used to be amazing, extraordinary, now you are just common.” WOW!!!!!!!! Every time she says that to me my heart breaks, I get angry at her, I think that she is being rude and say “well you just don’t know me anymore, you think you do but you don’t.” However, the truth is I don’t know me anymore! I have become this person who settles….YIKES, who does that? The Kanita who my mom remembers isn’t the Kanita who I like to think I am, but my actions are totally saying something different! My actions are screaming “I don’t deserve the best so you don’t have to give it to me” and that is the total OPPISITE of true!!! I am awesome, wonderful, smart, funny, intelligent, kind, loving, giving, (well you get the point) so why am allowing this “pseudo” this “situation” to treat me like I need him? Like I don’t deserve the royal treatment that he once bestowed on me (Don’t get me wrong I TRULY care about this individual or I would not have been talking to him for 6mts…YIKES…it has been 6mts, he has a good part of my heart, but the challenge is he does not realize that he is not treating my heart as well as it deserves to be).
But I digress, this is not about him (for confidentiality we will just call him pseudo from now on LOL) It is not about my mother, it is about ME and my mind set, about what I feel like I am worth. I know my worth however, I am acting like someone who is “desperate for love” and NOTHING is further from the truth!
So to come up with my goals to bring me back to this wonderful person who my mother keeps telling me about…hummmmmmm ( Julie this is a lot harder then I thought, I think I will steal some of yours since we are soul mates anyway :D)
Ok friends so I am on this Journey to rediscover the Kanita that my mom longs for and I am asking you all to be my accountability partners, I am asking you all because I know you love me and I know you want the best for me!
This is what I will be working on from now until the end of the year…
1) Read 4 books
2) Date myself once a week
3) Spend Sunday’s out of the house culturing myself / taking pictures
4) Go to church every week unless I am sick (I might need you all to help me with this)
5) Finish 3 miles at least 4 times a week
6) Start writing again
7) Laugh everyday
8) Attend at least 2 plays
No on Prop 4
So while this note is not a controversial (in my opinion) on my note on homosexual marriage it is still one that I am VERY interested in and VERY much opposed to!!!! Let me give you a little background….
Proposition 4, or the Abortion Waiting Period and Parental Notification Initiative, also known to its supporters as Sarah's Law proposes a new amendment to the California Constitution.[1],[2],[3]
The initiative would prohibit abortion for unemancipated minors until 48 hours after physician notifies minor’s parent, legal guardian or, if parental abuse has been reported, an alternative adult family member.
Specific provisions
The proposed initiative, if enacted as a constitutional amendment, would:
Provides exceptions for medical emergency or parental waiver.
Permits courts to waive notice based on clear and convincing evidence of minor’s maturity or best interests.
Mandates reporting requirements, including reports from physicians regarding abortions on minors.
Authorizes monetary damages against physicians for violation.
Requires minor’s consent to abortion, with exceptions.
Permits judicial relief if minor’s consent is coerced.
OK… so here is my problem with this Prop, I am a social worker and am VERY aware there are a NUMBER of parents who are extremely abusive to their children but mentally, emotionally, and physically. This prop is asking children to approach a parent who in some cases might (for lack of a better phrase) beat the snot out of the child and maybe even kick them out of the home.
How does free choice come into play if a child is MANDATED to inform their parents? What I see is children getting together after school or even cutting school to perform abortions on each other or to push each other down the stairs (I know most women told their girlfriends if they get pregnant they will shove them down the stairs, or maybe that was just my friends).
I do not believe that this is the fate that ANY one wants for our children, if ANYTHING why not offer a psychological evaluation to the children prior to having an abortion? It is unfortunate that this child Sarah passed away following a botched abortion but I do not believe that is reason enough to place children in harms way from there parental units.
Prop 4 does state that the child would be able to inform an alternate relative if parental abuse is REPORTED but lets be real, how many children to we think are abused on a day to day basis? I KNOW that we can not possibly think that all of the instances of abuse are REPORTED I believe that voting yes on prop 4 is voting yes on murder because that is was will occur if some children must inform their parents of an unplanned, unexpected pregnancy.
P.S. if you can get you hands on it I would watch the old movie “If these walls could talk” it speaks about abortion throughout the years and I believe will go back to “rusty knives and folding tables” (if any of you are fans of Dirty Dancing) if we as a nation become Pro- Life. Because the truth is that Pro-Life is actually the removal of personal CHOICE!!!! When will we stop trying to make people have our values? What will it take?
Proposition 4, or the Abortion Waiting Period and Parental Notification Initiative, also known to its supporters as Sarah's Law proposes a new amendment to the California Constitution.[1],[2],[3]
The initiative would prohibit abortion for unemancipated minors until 48 hours after physician notifies minor’s parent, legal guardian or, if parental abuse has been reported, an alternative adult family member.
Specific provisions
The proposed initiative, if enacted as a constitutional amendment, would:
Provides exceptions for medical emergency or parental waiver.
Permits courts to waive notice based on clear and convincing evidence of minor’s maturity or best interests.
Mandates reporting requirements, including reports from physicians regarding abortions on minors.
Authorizes monetary damages against physicians for violation.
Requires minor’s consent to abortion, with exceptions.
Permits judicial relief if minor’s consent is coerced.
OK… so here is my problem with this Prop, I am a social worker and am VERY aware there are a NUMBER of parents who are extremely abusive to their children but mentally, emotionally, and physically. This prop is asking children to approach a parent who in some cases might (for lack of a better phrase) beat the snot out of the child and maybe even kick them out of the home.
How does free choice come into play if a child is MANDATED to inform their parents? What I see is children getting together after school or even cutting school to perform abortions on each other or to push each other down the stairs (I know most women told their girlfriends if they get pregnant they will shove them down the stairs, or maybe that was just my friends).
I do not believe that this is the fate that ANY one wants for our children, if ANYTHING why not offer a psychological evaluation to the children prior to having an abortion? It is unfortunate that this child Sarah passed away following a botched abortion but I do not believe that is reason enough to place children in harms way from there parental units.
Prop 4 does state that the child would be able to inform an alternate relative if parental abuse is REPORTED but lets be real, how many children to we think are abused on a day to day basis? I KNOW that we can not possibly think that all of the instances of abuse are REPORTED I believe that voting yes on prop 4 is voting yes on murder because that is was will occur if some children must inform their parents of an unplanned, unexpected pregnancy.
P.S. if you can get you hands on it I would watch the old movie “If these walls could talk” it speaks about abortion throughout the years and I believe will go back to “rusty knives and folding tables” (if any of you are fans of Dirty Dancing) if we as a nation become Pro- Life. Because the truth is that Pro-Life is actually the removal of personal CHOICE!!!! When will we stop trying to make people have our values? What will it take?
No on Prop 8
know many of you will not agree with me, let me know what you thing AND I did not proof read so read through the errors! LOL
So as I was sitting in my house this evening watching Oprah I received a phone call from a number that was not saved in my phone book. Usually I do not answer numbers unknown to me however; since my phone was not working recently I assumed it was a friend of mine who I was not able to get their contact information yet. To my surprise it was no one that I knew but a woman calling asking me about Prop 8 (homosexual marriage).
She was very professional and identified herself then asked me if I was familiar with the prop. I indicated that I was and she stated “so will you be voting yes on prop 8?” (Voting yes means that I am in favor of as she put it “maintaining traditional marriage”) I kindly informed the lady that I actually have put a lot of though in it and I will be voting NO on prop 8. I informed the lady that although I am a Christian and I believe in God’s ideal of relationships that we have already strayed so far from what that is. I informed her that although I have my beliefs I do not think it is right for laws to be put in effect because I have a certain belief, individuals who are in love should be able to shout it from the mountain top they should be able to reap all of the rights and benefits that come with being in a committed relationship.
The lady then informed me that “voting NO will have some serious repercussions on the US” I asked her to elaborate on what those repercussions would be. She stated “many Catholic Charities have already closed in Mass because homosexual couples are trying to adopt children.” Now I know you know that was the worst thing she could have told me but unfortunately for her she didn’t know she should have come up with another argument. I asked her to explain how denying a child, born from a heterosexual union (married or not), who was abused, abandoned, or neglected a loving home is Christian? I then informed her that I am a social worker and the amount of abuse that I have seen in heterosexual homes I would GLADLY drive these children to homosexual couples who I knew would love them. And the audacity of the Catholic Charities to close their doors with their priest molesting children that is just wrong, are they really in it to provide for the children?
The lady then took a different approach and asked “what will they teach our children in schools?” and I asked her “what will you teach your children at home? I know what I will teach mine.” I then went on to ask her if she was aware that in the 1850’s their were laws that prevented African-Americans and inter-racial couples from marrying and it was only after the civil war that African Americans were granted that right and even worse only in 1967, mixed-race couples were permitted to marry. I stated to this woman that Christianity is not making those who are different from us feel inadequate or like they are not worth anything.
Yes you call sin by its name however, EVERYONE in the US is NOT Christian and do not share our beliefs is it right to force ours on them? Jesus didn’t! And is it even fair for us to have this conversation when heterosexual Christian couples are getting married and divorced at alarming rates?
What are we really trying to preserve? Marriage as it is in the US to me is a joke, with Vegas and their drive thru weddings, or individuals who have been married 4 times, what is the TRADITIONAL marriage anyway? To me it is the deceleration of love between two people, who are vowing to stay together for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, and in sickness and in health. And statistics show that homosexual couples remain together longer then heterosexual couples. So maybe we have a thing or two to learn from them.
So as I was sitting in my house this evening watching Oprah I received a phone call from a number that was not saved in my phone book. Usually I do not answer numbers unknown to me however; since my phone was not working recently I assumed it was a friend of mine who I was not able to get their contact information yet. To my surprise it was no one that I knew but a woman calling asking me about Prop 8 (homosexual marriage).
She was very professional and identified herself then asked me if I was familiar with the prop. I indicated that I was and she stated “so will you be voting yes on prop 8?” (Voting yes means that I am in favor of as she put it “maintaining traditional marriage”) I kindly informed the lady that I actually have put a lot of though in it and I will be voting NO on prop 8. I informed the lady that although I am a Christian and I believe in God’s ideal of relationships that we have already strayed so far from what that is. I informed her that although I have my beliefs I do not think it is right for laws to be put in effect because I have a certain belief, individuals who are in love should be able to shout it from the mountain top they should be able to reap all of the rights and benefits that come with being in a committed relationship.
The lady then informed me that “voting NO will have some serious repercussions on the US” I asked her to elaborate on what those repercussions would be. She stated “many Catholic Charities have already closed in Mass because homosexual couples are trying to adopt children.” Now I know you know that was the worst thing she could have told me but unfortunately for her she didn’t know she should have come up with another argument. I asked her to explain how denying a child, born from a heterosexual union (married or not), who was abused, abandoned, or neglected a loving home is Christian? I then informed her that I am a social worker and the amount of abuse that I have seen in heterosexual homes I would GLADLY drive these children to homosexual couples who I knew would love them. And the audacity of the Catholic Charities to close their doors with their priest molesting children that is just wrong, are they really in it to provide for the children?
The lady then took a different approach and asked “what will they teach our children in schools?” and I asked her “what will you teach your children at home? I know what I will teach mine.” I then went on to ask her if she was aware that in the 1850’s their were laws that prevented African-Americans and inter-racial couples from marrying and it was only after the civil war that African Americans were granted that right and even worse only in 1967, mixed-race couples were permitted to marry. I stated to this woman that Christianity is not making those who are different from us feel inadequate or like they are not worth anything.
Yes you call sin by its name however, EVERYONE in the US is NOT Christian and do not share our beliefs is it right to force ours on them? Jesus didn’t! And is it even fair for us to have this conversation when heterosexual Christian couples are getting married and divorced at alarming rates?
What are we really trying to preserve? Marriage as it is in the US to me is a joke, with Vegas and their drive thru weddings, or individuals who have been married 4 times, what is the TRADITIONAL marriage anyway? To me it is the deceleration of love between two people, who are vowing to stay together for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, and in sickness and in health. And statistics show that homosexual couples remain together longer then heterosexual couples. So maybe we have a thing or two to learn from them.
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