I think a lot of the not "quite right" feeling came from hypocrisy I saw in high school. The same folks that I'd be partying with on the weekends (yes, I was a rebel), were the folks leading Fellowship of Christian Athletes on Tuesday mornings by the flag pole. They'd be the ones spreading the most gossip and making fun of people as we walked through the halls. Did other people do this? Abso-freakin-lutely. But, those other people weren't preaching the word of God two hours beforehand.
So, there was that. As I've gotten older, I'm still not 100 percent comfortable with being a Christian. It still feels a little weird to me. Like maybe I don't belong quite yet. But, I'm on the journey to learning more about it. We've joined a church here in Texas. It's a nondenominational church and we actually really, really love it. Christian and I both describe it like we're sitting in a college theology course. We learn a LOT. I've also described the pastor as being a "teacher not a preacher". I need that. I need to learn what this is all about. I want to be able to teach my kids about the most popular religion in our culture. It makes the most sense for us. So yes, we love our church and are so thankful to have found a place that teaches on topic such as The Golden Rule and how people using the word "blessed" really are missing the point most of the time. I told my cousin the other day that this church really makes me feel like I belong. Like I really am as good of a person as I think I am (and I think I'm a pretty damn good person). That is NOT what I've ever expected from a church. So, thank you Texas (and Hillside Community Church) (and Kelli and Matt for inviting us).
The first service we went to, our pastor was telling about his recent trip to northern Iraq where he worked with refugees from the war stricken areas in that region. The second service, he got back to his normal teachings. He has been focusing on the book of Mark for a while now. But, on that day that we were there, he taught on Mark 12, Verses 28-34. Here is that scripture:
The Greatest Commandment
28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a] 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[b] 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[c] There is no commandment greater than these.”
32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.
Well, hot dog. I can totally get on board with this, I thought. The Golden Rule. Something I have always tried to live by.... even without the Bible telling me so. So, what has happened to this? Why have we as a society, as a religion, gone so far from this? And when did this right here get labeled as political correctness?
My Facebook newsfeed is latent with political post this season. Some are OK and some are just downright despicable. Like make my heart race kind of despicable. In the last couple days, a hot topic has been the recent announcement of Target's inclusion policy stating that a transgendered person can use the restroom of whatever sex they identify with. Well, there are many people totally up in arms about this policy. Mind you, from what I've read/researched, Target has never had a formal policy, aside from the men/women signs outside the bathrooms, that restricted anyone from entering those restrooms.
People are saying that this new policy is putting women and children at risk. That it is only going to cause more harm than good. That it's totally disrespectful. That this is now an open door policy for any pervert to just slap on a dress and waltz right into the ladies room and molest someone.
I. DON'T. GET. IT. Honestly. I don't. I have two small children. They are probably a prime target to some really demented person on this planet. But, I know that. And I take certain precautions to protect my offspring. And from my experience, all the restrooms that I've be in have separate stalls with walls that "protect" you from other people. And, never mind the fact that we've all probably peed next to a trans person at one point or another in our life. Is there some statistical research that states that transgendered individuals are more likely to be pedafiles? Am I really missing something here? If I am, PLEASE set me straight.
Here's what I really don't understand. How can a decent human being be so down right hateful and un-empathetic to another human being. Call me politically correct but people deserve respect. People deserve kindness. People deserve to be loved the same way you love yourself. Jesus even said so.
I posted a video to Facebook earlier of this redneck guy making all the points that I have thought. He did it with MUCH more vulgar language than I would have ever used but he certainly made the point.
I don't understand the fear. I don't understand the hate. Why not just use the southern saying "bless their hearts" and move on about your day? Why be scared? People back in the 1950s were scared of using the same bathroom as a black person. Look where we are today.
And think about this. What if your kid grows up to be labeled as "different" in our society. How would you want them to be treated? Would you want people to be scared of them? Would you want people to think they are going to rape someone, molest someone, video tape someone? This is kind of what hits home so hard for me. As a mother, I cannot imagine someone treating my children the way some of these minority groups are being treated. The blacks, the hispanics, the gays, the transgendered, the Muslims. I just can't imagine. What has happened to our empathy for our fellow brothers and sisters in the human race. What happened to taking a proverbial walk in their shoes? They all have reasons to feel different. They have been treated differently for years and years. We can't just ignore that and say everything inclusive is just political correctness gone awry. There are certainly some folks to stretch the gravy train a bit. But, in general, these cries for inclusion are well warranted. There is no denying that. The only way you can deny it is if you've never been "different".
And then think about this. What if your kids grows up perfectly normal. But, he/she loves the world and everyone in it? Wouldn't that be beautiful? That's what I hope for in my kids. I hope they know to be inclusive. To be kind. To be humble. To be grateful. Because that is what good is. THAT is what we need. A little empathy.
It's not political correctness. It's being kind.
