FRIDAY JANUARY 13, 2023 - SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS

 FRIDAY JANUARY 13, 2023 - SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS

Note - this will also be gender thoughts.

I have always been spiritual.  I define this as different from being religious.  My youth was spent in church.  We were in church every Sunday.  I had perfect Sunday School attendance for twelve years.  (Now, most of that is kind of ‘rote’).

In college, I investigated some of the other Christian churches and read more.  In particular, since they were labeled as “Christian” but were different from Protestant Churches, I studied Catholicism.  Priests (who were only men and never married), Nuns (women who also didn’t marry or were ‘married to Christ’), incense, vestments, Saints, Mary, and obligations were different to this Protestant boy.    

I dated Catholic girls (and Protestant girls).  And, I married a Catholic girl (from an Irish Catholic family of 11 children and an uncle who was a priest and later a bishop).  We married in a Presbyterian Church and worshiped in a Presbyterian church for our first four years of marriage.  

During this time in my life (about age 26 to 30), I also became “Born Again” and a pentecostal (lower “P”).  That thrust me into evangelical circles.  I became a “Biblethumper”. But, Catholicism still interested me.  

In my 50th year, I became a Catholic.  As an evangelical, I took the Bible fairly literally, and the verses from John 6 “My Flesh is real food; My blood is real drink”, and” Unless you eat my flesh and drink of my blood, you are not part of me”. (And, I believed).  

Catholicism carries a lot of baggage.  There are some significant cultural aspects.  Hispanic Catholics bring cultural aspects of Mexico and Latin America.  In my area, many cars have rosaries hanging from their rearview mirrors.  Also, many Catholics wear medals or scapulars - almost more for superstition than for faith.  

There is also misogyny in Catholicism.  Male-only priests, a rigid hierarchy, and a view that sees women as chattel. 

In my transition, I stepped on the toes of the Catholic establishment.  I have been told not to use the women’s restroom.  My local priest tried to use the concept that transgender people prey on kids and others in the restroom.  It seemingly makes other women reluctant to use the restroom.  Instead, there is a single restroom in the children’s cry area that I am to use.

Now, lately, I’ve had a few bouts with incontinence. So, if I am in a similar situation at this church, I’d have to run to the single restroom in the crying area.  If it was occupied, I’d really have a problem.

This is all part of what I call “Bathroom Wars”.  

For example, “Texas and several other states introduce “bathroom surveillance” bills that would require transgender people to use bathrooms that match their birth gender. (I absolutely will NOT go into a men’s bathroom in a dress - with all the other womanly aspects). The communications director at the National Center for Transgender Equality says the wave of new legislation seemed to be a backlash to “the gains we have seen in state and local non-discrimination policies that protect transgender people.” 

So, I am to use the men’s restroom.  (I’d be scared about some man molesting me in a men’s restroom rather than me molesting a young girl in the lady’s restroom!!).  But, seemingly my existence is of less importance.  (And, let us be honest, at age 75 I’m not going to be molesting anybody).

But, my parish priest told me directly that I am not welcome to use the women’s restroom, and to me that implied that I am not welcome at this particular church/parish. (Aside, this priest is fairly new to this parish)

*****

Now, there are very troubling signs here.  Discrimination has been part of history.  Some societies still discriminate against women; slavery; religion; and gender orientation.  

I sense a ‘mission’ here - a mission to further love, acceptance, and understanding.  Like Paul, who was knocked off his horse on the way to Damascus, I was knocked off my “high horse”.  I am an evangelist for LOVE WINS.  

Love your neighbor as yourself, love one another, love is patient, love is kind.  There are three things - faith, hope, and love and the greatest of these is LOVE.  

I also see political agendas creeping in.  In order to win Catholic - anti-abortion votes, the Republican party has “married” conservative Christianity.  Evangelical Christians and Catholics are Republican.  There seems to be an emphasis on “doctrine” and “correctness” rather than love.

I am still called to Love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength; to love my neighbors as myself, and even to love my enemies.  

LOVE - agape Love - God breathed Love - can this be done?  Humans aren’t too good at that - but with God’s help, I’ll keep trying!!!  

Can I be loved even though I am different?  Can those at the Texas border be loved?  Can those who get abortions be loved?  Can a Christian love God and yet hate me? (Not according to 1 John 2).  

1 Peter 4:8 “ Above all, love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins

My mission seems to open dialog, to see if LOVE CAN CONQUER fear, hatred, and politics.  (Yes, I still am Pollyanna Karen).  

LOVE DOES WIN

LOVE TRANSFORMS

KAREN ANNE WHITE, ©, JANUARY 13, 2023