Happy Cinco de Mayo

This is NOT the Independence Day of Mexico, but the day in which the Mexican army defeated the French in battle. It's a day for all oppressed people to celebrate standing up to their oppressors. Think of the American Revolution. Think of the Stonewall riots. We must fight our own personal battles as we struggle to be free. The journey to freedom is not easy, but it's not one to be taken alone, either. Together we can choose to live in freedom, refusing the shackles that others have placed upon us, and ridding ourselves of the chains we have put on ourselves. It's worth the price we pay. I am reminded of the slogan on New Hampshire license plates: Live free or die!
Beckett

Personally

As I consider my journey to freedom so close to the fortieth anniversary of the death of Martin Luther King, Jr., I ask myself if I am working only for my own personal freedom or for the freedom of others as well. Those who know me, understand that I write things which can only be fully understood by knowing who I am in my totality. Disclosing myself completely is not something which I can do on this blog, but I can do it on a one to one basis with trusted friends; who indeed reveals of themselves in a forum such as this? I can help others break the chains of fundamentalism on this blog, but I seek a freedom that goes beyond that -- the freedom to speak my truth without fear of incurring the wrath of my superiors. The day may come when I dare to infuriate them with my own personal truth, but that day is not today; it is for a tomorrow which I hope will not take another forty years to come. I love my God, and my God loves me, but there are those who would deny that truth. And I am well aware that I must speak the truth in love; it is perhaps the most important thing I can do for those who agree with me, and for those who vehemently and violently disagree. I cannot be free so long as any of my sisters or brothers is imprisoned, not by chains, nor by iron bars in a cell, but imprisoned by the god of fundamentalism, the god of hate, I choose to serve the God of love, the God of freedom, the God of Jesus of Nazareth.

God's Love is For All -- Me Included

I caused my parents a lot of trouble, I suppose. Again and again they told me that if others saw me at home, they wouldn't like me so much. Looking back at my childhood, I don't think I was that bad of a kid. Not an angel, but not really bad. I don't think I've ever said anything so hurtful to my own children. My parents, though, added to my low self-esteem, as did the Bible, the Word of God. God told me how bad I was, so then I had to agree with my parents, no one would like me if they really knew me.

I'm 50 years old now, and I know better. I know God is love, and that God's love is great enough to extend to me. I know that people can and do like/love me for who I am, even when they know things about me that I tend to keep hidden. So God's love extends to you, whoever you are reading this.

On my journey to freedom, I know God is right beside me, every step of the way.

Chuck

Judy Garland - Somewhere Over The Rainbow

When life is too mcuh for me, I might pray or read the Scriptures. Or I might simply listen to Judy Garland sing "Over the Rainbow." This is argualbly her best rendition of her signature song.

Blowin' in the wind

"How many deaths will it take till he knows that too many people have died?" Those lyrics were meant to refer to the deaths in the Viet Nam war, and perhaps in all wars -- so I was told, anyway. But on the Journey to Freedom for my gay lesbian brothers and sisters, too many have died -- by their own hand, and by the hands of those whose minds have been filled with hate from those who claim to speak in the name of Jesus.

Jesus, the Prince of Peace, who never turned away anyone who wanted to follow him (though he made no bones in telling folk what that meant), weeps at these needless deaths. My Journey to Freedom will be incomplete until all are free. My journey is incomplete until the war against the GLBT community is over.

Chuck

Alone again, naturally

I've said it before and here it is again: The journey is not meant to be taken alone. However, there may be times when it feels like you're alone and friendless in the world, when no one seems to care, when people misunderstand you, or understand you and reject you because of who you are. People disappoint us, acting in ways we don't understand, in ways that don't fit the pattern of what we have come to expect of them. When people don't even treat us with common courtesy or with respect, we can get angry or feel hurt, or both. These reactions are normal. If such people are important to us, we can express our feelings to them, but not in an angry or hurtful way, but in a way that invites continued friendship and dialogue. If these persons aren't important to us, we can choose not to show our anger or hurt, but to go on without them, without getting ugly.

This is easy to write, but much harder to put into practice. I know I don't take disappointment well. I tend to ask myself what's wrong with me, but in fact there's nothing wrong with me. I need friends to travel this road with me. If I have but one friend, that will be enough. The truth is, there are many out there on the journey with me, but I haven't met them yet. And I confess, I want one special friend to share this journey with. But that will have to wait a while.

Chuck

Snow and Hot Chocolate

It's snowing in downtown Milford. I can look out my window and see the clouds rolling past the full moon; it's quite a sight. And I am drinking hot chocolate, just like when I was a little kid, after coming in from making a snowman or having a snowball fight. Ah! to be young again! I can hear the words of Jesus, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these." (Matthew 19:14, NLT)

Part of my journey includes going to that place in myself that is still childlike and setting that little boy free, comforting him when he hurts and giving expression to his pain, as well as his joy. I need to LET GO and allow myself to be silly, when the time and place are right; to let go of being so SERIOUS all the time. And I need to trust in God as a child trusts his/her parents.

On the journey to be free,
Chuck