New Jersey Law!!

There are now two states which have enacted laws banning gay conversion therapy for children. California being the first state to pass such a law.  Its a good thing to protect children, plus the reality is this therapy does more harm than anything and never truly changes anyone. In fact, there is a higher instance depression, and suicide among teens in this kind of therapy.  To tell you, at one time early in my coming out, I looked into this kind of therapy.  I am so glad I decided against it! 

Several significant points I want to make about this New Jersey law are the fact this law was signed by a Republican Governor.  Not only that but Chris Christie attached a note saying he believed people are born gay.  That homosexuality is not the sin it is purported to be by mainstream Christianity.  What a break from his party! What a break with his Catholic background. Perhaps a smart move if you want to run for President? This is a significant event!

Now I hope more states enact similar laws protecting children from this kind of "therapy" or what I consider abuse.  This is progress!
 

Monday Medley : Love and Affection

This was a great weekend, a long weekend, but I did not do half of what I planned.  Partly due to the weather, but mostly due to my being lazy.  Sometimes their is a time to lazy, just relax, this was the first time in a very long time I had three days in a row off.  However, tomorrow its back to the schedule, unless I decide to take a PTO day, but since its supposed to rain, I will go to work.

Todays Monday Medley is a song I have been listening to on the radio. Hope you enjoy it.

http://youtu.be/GXt2wL11uKs
 

A Day At The Garden

My buddy Branden and I went to the local Botanical Garden and walked all over the wonderful grounds.  The weather was perfect, sunshine, low humidity and in the mid 70's, very unusual for August!  The garden is a great place to relax, and enjoy the surroundings, flowers, trees, birds and waterways.  We found a number of tall Redwood trees, I did not think they would grow well here.  They have a membership plan, I think I am going join, and go more often.  Especially for seasonal events, like the Christmas lights, and spring flowers.  It was fun, great place and more enjoyable since I had someone to walk around the place with and talk about whatever.  Also I noticed it is a wonderful bird sanctuary, except for Eagles. They destroyed the Eagles nest because it interfered with the planes at the airport.   We saw a family of Cardinals, such a gorgeous bird!


There was a display of glass flowers scattered about the garden, wish I had thought of taking a picture of them.  Next time I go I will take my regular camera with me since it works better than the one on my phone.  Here are a couple of pictures.

 

 

 

To LOVE "Tis A Fearful Thing

 

 

 

'Tis A Fearful Thing

'Tis a fearful thing

To love

What death can touch.

To love, to hope, to dream,

And oh, to lose.

A thing for fools, this,

Love,

But a holy thing,

To love what death can touch.

For your life has lived in me;

Your laugh once lifted me;

Your word was a gift to me.

To remember this brings painful joy.

‘Tis a human thing, love,

A holy thing,

To love

What death can touch.

(To love is a precious thing FF2013)

Judah Halevi, 11th C., Spain

Poet, Philosopher, Physician 

 

Monday Medley: Moon River

Happy Monday. today I am sharing an old song used in Breakfast at Tiffany's Moon River written by Henry Mancini.  Its a beautiful yet sad song. its done here by Elton John  I hope you enjoy it.



http://youtu.be/RGi5EKPjIvw

Being Outed

Recently I learned that a former manager in my department told the Clincial Pastoral Education (CPE) supervisor shortly after he came to our department that I was gay.  Don't know any details of how or why that conversation occurred. Fortunately this one he told is LGBT friendly! This is interesting to me in the fact that I never came out to this manager, and not sure how he was sure enough to tell someone else.  I am certain he suspected.  Now I am wondering who else he told?

Since this gentleman is no longer employed with the company, this occurred three maybe four years ago now, and so far nothing negative has come from his outing of me.  I don't really have any need for recourse. At least that is my thought at this moment.  I have no need or desire to contact this man and talk about this. No need to.

I will say that I think it is dead wrong for anyone to out another person to anyone.  Its not their business, not their place! The damage that can from the doing this could catastrophic to the one who is outed.  Its up to that person to come out to whom he or she chooses, and it being a workplace makes it more critical in my mind.

As for the CPE Supervisor, he did not ask me to confirm or deny, just that he was uncomfortable with this information and felt it was time for me to know?? My thought What's that all about?  It could be there is a CPE student  this summer who is openly gay.  I am aware it has been an issue with some of the other students.  I don't know why now?  I guess it does not really matter.  At least I think it does not.

Now I have ad conversations with two of my closest friends about different guys and acknowledging they are gay, but it goes no further, and we three understand the importance of that.

If you are ever tempted to out someone for whatever reason, Please don't! Its the wrong thing to do!

I may say more about this in the near future.

Monday Medley,: Song of Faith; God Will Make a Way

Yesterday being the first Sunday of the month, and many churches observe Communion, I make the First Monday after Communion Sunday a song of Faith Monday medley.  Today I am sharing a song by Don Moen, God Will Make a Way.  I hope you enjoy it and that it speaks to you.
 

Monday Medley: : Rihanna - Diamonds

Happy Monday, Well my stint working Sunday's is now complete!  I am glad, relieved, and look forward to having my weekends off! I hope nothing happens to mess that up, I hope not to be on call anymore than I am now!

I hope you all have a great week.
 

My thoughts on the Aquittal

For a week now, I have held back sharing my thoughts on the Zimmerman acquittal.  No particular reason, other than not appearing to give a knee jerk reaction.  I have to say, I was disappointed that he was not found guilty of at least Manslaughter. 

Here are my reasons, first he was told when he called the police NOT to follow this young man. There was no evidence or indication Martin had committed a crime.  Zimmerman provoked the confrontation by following and most likely following too closely.  In my opinion, shared by others I have talked with, Zimmerman most likely was looking for trouble, a confrontation because he was carrying a weapon. He took authority he did not have.

I don't care if he was neighborhood watch, had a permit to carry a weapon, he should NOT have been carrying a deadly weapon on watch.  Neighborhood watch is that...WATCH and REPORT not intervene. Again there was no crime in progress where intervention was needed. When he called police he fulfilled his responsibility.  This was completely preventable!  His not guilty verdict, does not hold him accountable for his negligence in this senseless death.  What a waste!

In my opinion, Stand your ground laws should be re-evaluated, and either repealed, reworked to be more specific and put emphasis on prevention rather than justification. This is or should be a miss use of such a law. Not used to justify deadly force when you are the one provoking the confrontation by your action.  Zimmerman provoked confrontation, and he is not held accountable.

What if the victim was gay? Could this had been considered a hate crime?  Or a stand your ground justification?.
 

Monday Medley: Selena Gomez - Come & Get It

Yesterday was the first Sunday I was not on call since September.  I honestly was not sure what to do last night when I came home from work!  I usually wait for the pager to go off! Normally don't have to wait for long. I was still back up for my replacement. He only needed to call once.   For the next few weeks I will still be working with my replacement, orienting him to the Hospital, and various procedure and such.  My hours will then move to daytime during the week! I will still be on call two nights per week.  Progress!

An historic event for the LGBT community as a whole, last week Queen Elizabeth quietly signed into law the British Bill legalizing  Same Sex Marriage! Progress for our community, there is hope.  Conversely there is a law being strengthened in Russia punishing those who are gay! So sad, the hate continues. 

This weeks song is by Selena, I hope you enjoy!

A Call One Night

One evening I was called to the Emergency Room at one of the Hospitals I serve.  It was for a patient who was involved in what is called Intimate Partner Violence. (IVP) This patient was very emotional, and would not talk about his experience, including cooperating with the Police.   They thought the Chaplain could help him calm down and bring comfort.  Instead, the thought of the Chaplain's presence made him nervous. I almost did not speak with him because of his nervousness.   That is until he actually met  me and we started talking, I was able to put him at ease. 

He said he was afraid the Chaplain would judge him and his lifestyle as a gay man.  Would lay the blame for his IVP situation on him. He said when he saw me and began to talk with me he felt I was different from his experience with "religious people"  HOW SAD that is. What a shame.   Instead of bringing comfort, the experience is judgment and hate.

At least there was a different experience for this patient. I'm thankful fro being enabled to be in the right place at the right time...a divine appointment?

Monday Medley: Zedd - Clarity (feat. Foxes)

Yesterday I began orienting the new Chaplain for Sunday's .  I still did on call last night, and it was a tough one.  I had four calls to the Emergency room. I did not get much sleep.  The song for today is Clarity hope you enjoy it.