Love never fails.

I don't often write about political or social concerns because that's not what I'm about, and because it makes my insides feel weird.  I have my opinions, I live my life rooted in love and I write because I am a mom who hopes to paint an accurate and telling portrait of who I am and what I believe...when it's all over, I know that I write this for my children.  I write without research and without a deep political or theological understanding; I write it from my heart.

We live in a crazy-scary world where people are sometimes tragically blinded by their beliefs and agendas.  Children die in Chicago at alarming rates and an eerie code of silence protects the murderers.  CNN says there is an "ominous new threat from North Korea" because they have "cut channels with the South."  Victoria's Secret has launched a line aimed at "Tweens" which features a pair of undies with the phrase "Feeling Lucky?" across the bottom.  All of this because people are executing their agendas and clinging to their beliefs.

It's all enough to make me want to cry, but today the world is going crazy because gay men and women who are in serious, committed relationships want to get married to their partners.  Hmm...people who love one another want to get married?  They want to be treated equally under the law?  Just the law, not the church?  What's the problem here?  Isn't this an issue of civil rights?  Human rights? 

I'm pretty sure the Bible says that we are created in God's image, and that you should "love your neighbor like yourself."  And that dusty old Declaration of Independence?  Well, it asserts that "all men are created equal" and are entitled to rights such as "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."  Aren't those concepts beautiful?  We have been created equally in the image of God, we should love one another and we have the right to be happy.  

Well...Unless you are Gay.  If you are gay, you probably made a choice to be that way because God would not have done that on purpose.  If you are gay, I will treat you like my neighbor until you tell me you are gay, and then I will condemn your "way of life" and deny you your "pursuit of happiness."  Doesn't that sound absolutely absurd?  That is enough to make me want to cry.  I am saddened by the lack of love for others and a lack of respect for their rights.  We live in a country that is built on freedom and justice, yet we will vehemently fight against  a gay couple's right to marry?

I know that people hold deeply rooted religious and secular beliefs about why we need to oppose marriage equality, and please understand that I respect that we have differing opinions.  In fact, I think that is what makes America amazing.  However, I become angered and fearful when those opinions become mired in bigotry and intolerance.  It hurts my heart and boggles my mind to hear people say that gay marriage will threaten the sanctity of marriage.  Will someone please explain how my marriage will become less sacred because gay couples, who love each other, will be given the same rights as me?

I must admit that I am a bit surprised by my own passion for the marriage equality debate; I don't get "fired up" that easily, and yet there is such obvious discrimination and injustice when it comes to the right to marry that I can't help but become passionate.  My hit-in-the-gut moment of awareness came last fall when Faith and I were discussing the Presidential candidates and their beliefs.  I did my best to present the grown-up issues in a child-friendly unbiased way, but I just could not find a way to tell Faith that some people in this world are overtly against gay couples' right to marry.  How do you tell a child that in our civilized, educated country, people are not treated fairly?  And how do you explain that they are treated unfairly simply because they LOVE differently?  I had no words to explain that to my child in that moment, and I hope that soon we will live in a place where that discrimination is no longer allowed.

Today my hope for America, and for my children is that God's love will prevail because "love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails."  1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

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Here are two beautifully written blogs concerning gay rights and our approach to discussing these strongly held beliefs...as for me, you will find me in the basement.
In the Basement
The Basement Manifesto