When you grow up in the Bible Belt you become well-versed in
all things that could possibly be a sin. I found myself resentful towards all
the fire and brimstone and judging. That attitude hurt my faith for a very long
time.
My favorite Bible verse is 1 Corinthians 13:13, which
states, “Three things will last forever--faith, hope, and love--and the
greatest of these is love.” If you are a Christian, you will probably agree that
Jesus was all about love, sharing, and accepting. Even if you are not a
believer in a Christian faith, the principles of Jesus are admirable to say the
least.
Love. I could give
clichés on love and I could give insight, but I am no expert. Here is what I do
know: Love is something that all humans experience in one form or another, if
not many.
Love is found in a wet nose nozzle from your dog (or a walk
across your computer with a loud purr from your cat) after a long day. Love is
found the first time your child touches your face during a feeding. Love is
found when you have broken your mother’s heart, only to learn that all the
things that she ever did in your life were to make you the best person
possible. Love is found in moments of
silence where you find a voice of acceptance and reasoning, whether it is
through prayer to a god, meditation, or experiencing nature. Love is found in a
classroom when that one teacher pushes you to do your best because that teacher
sees what you are capable of doing in life (Thanks, Mrs. McKinnon). Love is
found in a friend who has seen you at your worst and knows when to kick your
proverbial tail into shape and when to just hold you, yet always supporting
you. Love is found when you find someone who takes you as you are and wants to
spend their life making memories and growing with you.
Love is everywhere. Maslow has acknowledge the need for love
since 1943.
There are those that will argue that a marriage between a
same-sex couples is a sin. Okay. If Jesus were walking around today, he would
have accepted these men and women because that is what love is about: accepting
others. The Christians that I choose to surround myself do not judge others,
for we know that is not our place. As a Christian, I personally look at the
content of one’s heart because that is what I believe God sees. Jesus accepted,
loved, and at times, humbled himself to all kinds of people despite their
beliefs, status, or gender.
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| John Cusack gets it and he is still cute. |
Whether you believe in that theology or not, everyone
deserves to experience love in all forms possible. A genuinely deep and
simmering love between strong couples should be celebrated.
Considering that the divorce rate in America is approximately
50% (which Biblically is a sin), I will never understand how some people
believe that allowing more people to join in marriage could be a threat to the
marriage between a man and a woman. To me, this is allowing more people to
experience and be fulfilled through love.
A few days ago, Pulaski Circuit Judge Chris Piazza struck
down the ban on same-sex marriages in Arkansas, declaring it unconstitutional.
He reminded us of Loving v. Virginia (1967), a historical case that allowed for
interracial marriages to be legal and recognized. Judge Piazza ended his ruling with the
following statement, “It has been over forty years since Mildred Loving was
given the right to marry the person of her choice. The hatred and fears have
long since vanished and she and her husband lived full lives together; so it
will be for the same-sex couples. It is time to let that beacon of freedom
shine brighter on all our brothers and sisters. We will be stronger for it.
IT IS SO ORDERED this 9th day of May 2014.”
Pope Francis stated in an interview with the “Jesuit
Catholic Journal”, "A person once asked me, in a provocative manner, if I
approved of homosexuality. I replied with another question: ‘Tell me: when God
looks at a gay person, does he endorse the existence of this person with love,
or reject and condemn this person?’ We must always consider the person.”
Although the Bishop of the Little Rock Diocese is fighting
the lifting of the ban, I put more weight in the words of my Pope (I am a
Catholic). A statement from Bishop Taylor can be found in this article by Max
Brantley of The Arkansas Times: Catholic
bishop says diocese will intervene to support ban on same-sex marriage.
I do not know a single same-sex couple that is expecting
every church to open their doors for a religious ceremony (the Methodist and Episcopal
are completely open to same-sex marriages in the church, just so you know). The idea that a same-sex couple is going to
ruin the sanctity of a Christian marriage makes me question the strength of the
marriage of those who are hollering the most. No person or couple has the power
to destroy my marriage (which is Christian based) because our union is ours and
ours alone. We make a choice to dedicate ourselves to making our marriage work,
despite that the traditional marriage structure is currently failing in our
country.
Love. Every person
in this country should be given equal rights and opportunities, regardless of
your personal views on same-sex marriage. Freedom of religion is a wonderful
thing. Freedom from being forced to live in a society that demands you follow a
specific doctrine is one of the things that keeps this country great. Sadly,
the love of our freedoms are lost on those that fight so hard to deny all
people equal rights, much like the similarly minded people who protested the
ruling of Loving v. Virginia and protested the segregation of schools in Little
Rock in 1957.
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| Despite an apology decades later, Hazel Massey will forever be "that" person. Don't be like Hazel Massey. |
I write this blog tonight in honor of my “Ace Boon Coon.”
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| My Ace Boon Coon (the best friend that just "gets it" and would do anything for you) indulges my love of selfies. |
She spent her day with hundreds of other couples at the Pulaski County
Courthouse. Although she and her partner had a ceremony years ago and have lived
as a married couple, today she was given the legal right to have her
significant other recognized as her spouse. Today, one of my best friends, got
to experience the same joy of making a legal and acknowledged commitment to the
person that she loves most. She could do this freely with love and support.
Regardless of what you believe personally, I will always
believe that of all the things, “the greatest is love.” My Ace and her Lovey
are officially my favorite newlyweds and my heart soars for them both. My heart
swells with pride that my friend, who has loved and accepted me always, is
finally being treated with respect and was granted one of her greatest wishes.
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| Congratulations Mrs. and Mrs. Ace Boon Coon - Lovey |
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