Where were you when the Supreme Court Ruling on Same-Sex Marriages was announced? Well I was very close to the photo above. In beautiful Key West, Florida.
There seems to be some sort of irony in this story, a “good Catholic” girl, who grew up in a politically conservative family, vacationing in Key West, Florida with her husband, 2 sons, and parents as the ruling was made public. However, I can’t imagine a place I would’ve rather have been at that moment. I felt honored to have so many friends and family members who were now able to have the same right I had known for over 20 years, to be able to marry who you love. How could this right be denied to so many?
My oldest son & his friends were passionately behind the decision, truthfully I felt humbled to learn how much he cared about the decision. The compassion & acceptance he has learned in his 17 years, and the belief that all should be treated with respect is something I hoped he learned from me, but now I realize his courage to stand behind an issue he believes in is truly beyond anything I could have taught him or could do myself. In my younger days….I remember that passion….that conviction……awe inspiring…….but somewhere along the way….so many of us lose it I’m afraid, and forget that critical thinking about an issue is truly the only was we can expand our ability to understand it.
So…….in the midst of this eclectic town, my inquisitive 17-year-old engaged (sometimes at nauseum) this conversation repeatedly…..why were people so enraged over the decision to grant marriage equality for all in our country?
Emails. Facebook posts. So many filled with hatred….it was shameful to read.
I had nearly a week to mull this over with him….over and over…..
The Supreme Court Ruling on Equality in Marriage has been a wonderful educator, not only on what people think about the issue of same-sex marriage, but also on how we treat others whose opinions differ from our own. On both sides.
I looked up in the bible to see how many references there were on this issue, only to find some disagreement on exact numbers (as there is still so much left to interpretation), but still found only a handful of references to same-sex relationships. On kindness? On peace? On loving one another? On showing compassion? The numbers are outstandingly different! Based on that alone, what messages do you think God wants us to understand above all others………to love one another……..
I thought about it for a bit and my response was this……..I find life complicated enough to figure out for myself each day, I cannot be consumed with trying to figure out if others are living their life “correctly.” Each night before I go to bed I pray and think, was I kind today? Did I show others compassion? Did I offer support so someone else who needed me? Did I live my life to honor what God would want me to be doing? Simple….and yet complex.
Although I’m not old enough to remember, it wasn’t that long ago when women were not allowed to vote, and people were forbidden to marry outside of our own race……I am so thankful to be living in a time that is moving towards acceptance, kindness, love and hopefully one day peace for all in our world…..
peaceinthejourney 