Regarding the recent exchange of editorial pieces (Cathryn Hankla “The Meaning of Christmas in an New Age”
I realize the impossibility of arguing faith with reason – after all, in the terms of a book I recently read, ‘defenses defend’. I doubt any amount of reasoning will ever, has ever, successfully convinced persons of faith - committed, convinced persons of faith - to believe otherwise. More often than not, it has come down to force of arms to settle such miserable and angry differences. The most we can usually hope for is for the generations to pass and enlightenment to slowly come through experience, learning, and acceptance as younger generations cast off the mistakes, misconceptions, misinterpretations and misguided teachings of old.
Ultimately I came down to a conclusion that centered on two things from all the words of those letters – the Bible as the ‘inspired word of God’ and love between two people.
When I see two people in love, I see hope, vibrancy, possibility and expansion. I see the joy of being in each other’s presence, I see the sharing of minds, of aspirations, of hopes, of futures, of hearts. Indeed, one of faith might choose to see in such love the ‘inspired word of God’.
And I celebrate that.
When I think about it, love is all that matters. When my days on this earth wind down, if I am fortunate enough to have loved and been loved (and I am), nothing else will be of more import than that love, expressed and received.
I celebrate that and would that all people have that. Because, if we can’t allow others that simple, wonderful, basic sharing, what kind of people are we? If we can’t look at two human beings in love and we can’t honor that energy, honor that life, and vibrancy, what, then, is worth honoring and worth celebrating? And defending?
The reality of this world is that I must live in the present. I believe that I must honor those things that are hopeful and consistent with compassion. I believe that my challenge is to pour my energy into things that support, encourage, and foster love. To cast out two consenting and loving adults because their sexual orientation discomforts me is to fundamentally cast out love. And I say that is wrong. I require no book, no manual, no instruction, no higher power to tell me that.
A relationship that is based on love in this world – this world of all possible worlds – we need all of those we can get. For only from the energy, spark, and joy of committed individuals freely loving one another can this world continue to move from the hallways and passages of fear, dismissal, and hate to the revelation of our shared humanity and recognition that all people deserve respect.
A state that is founded on the needs and aspirations of humanity needs to respect and further all humanity, regardless of religion, creed, color, origin, economic standing, and sexual orientation. While your book, background or upbringing may encourage you to live in certain ways, do not demand that all follow your book, follow your upbringing. Especially when you mean to frustrate, limit and, indeed, shrink the power of love. It is time that we realize that love helps complete us as human beings. To frustrate, humiliate, and marginalize the love of two people is to do irreparable damage to those individuals and to the fabric and makeup of our culture and our society. And our polity – for all people are created equal as is the love between two people.
