Lessons

As time goes by many things come into focus. Patience is one. How to relax and the need for it is another. Avoiding congestion – both traffic and lung! I’m still working on that. Taking one step at a time, especially for the large projects, like moving! Or getting through an election day as a judge.  So much to do. Such a tight time schedule at the beginning and end; yet the middle hours can go slowly, painfully slowly.

Renewing my spirit in tough times has taught valuable lessons. Giving up what bothers me is not easy, but it is necessary if peace is to be achieved. And when the peace comes the reward follows. A deep breath. Filled lungs pressing against the inside of the rib cage. Tension released in arms and legs so that they are once again felt, not with throbbing but with ease and lightness. Now the back loosening up is still a job to be done but it will come, with peace.

Talked with a stranger the other day. Opening remarks were relaxed and comfortable. We shared what was on our minds. Easy and free. He in his 20’s; me, 70. On the surface not a lot one would think we could easily share, but we did. He is finishing college. Worried about starting his career. Wondering about the elections and their relevance when so much is happening culturally here at home and so much unrest and violence in the rest of the world. That got us started. I shared my thoughts on a few of the topics he introduced. He caught on I am gay. A non-issue. We spoke as though we had known each other for many, many years. Comfortable and direct; honest; heartfelt.

I am enthused with the future with such young people about.

Morning news was on a lady who won her republican congressional primary in Illinois, somewhere near Chicago. She believes autism and Alzheimer’s is God’s punishment for gay marriage and abortion. In this day and age someone wins a primary election with that set of opinions? Opinions she believes important enough to insert in her campaign? And she won?

Well, the republican party asked her to withdraw from the ballot but she didn't; yet she won.  Guess the democrat will win the district, eh?  One can only hope. The young understand this. They get separation of church and state. They get acceptance and understanding. They welcome diversity not dogma, divergence of thought not ditto-thinking. Thank heavens.

Lessons. Yes many  lessons learned. Even in our new home our neighbors are catching on that ours is a gay household. And yet it is quite normal. Like theirs. Get up in the morning. Work the computer. Make coffee. Get involved in the community. Conduct countless tasks and errands. End the day exhaustedly in front of a good meal and comforting TV. Or maybe go to any number of meetings.  They witness our daily routine. They know we are people worth knowing. They also know we are people not worthy of being judged.

They are very nice people. We felt at home immediately.  Do you know how special that is? Do you know how special that is when you know you are representative of less than 10% of households in America? And yet you are accepted?

We know how that is because we are daily in contact with the real world. And that world sees us clearly. We are not lying or hiding. We live our lives openly and well. In spite of bad economics, financial pressures, aging bodies and all the rest, we live lives of purpose. That’s all they need to know we are good people to know and be partners with in the projects of their lives and interests.

This quote was spotted on the internet the other day:1111111111

“Our job is to love others without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy.”    ~Author Unknown

That fits in nicely with what we were discussing, right?

I Think our country is getting a lot of things right. The pendulum has swung wildly in recent years but we are pulling ourselves upright again. We are coming into a better age of understanding and acceptance. That’s a good thing.

A very good thing. And a lesson well learned!

March 21, 2014