Tuesday, March 27, 2012

We did not start the fire

Has anyone ever really changed their position on anything because of a sign? Who are these people who feel it to be their mission in life to chide and condemn others with paper placards?
If you must go there, what part of "all have sinned and fall short" do people forget? And why is "gay" the most sign worthy sin?
Now, here is an excellent -- must read -- article addressing some of these things. 



 same sex marriage
 Marriage & Relationship Recognition

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Mission of Mercy

Later this week I am traveling across country to visit my Mom. I have not seen her for years. I have been busy being a Mom and working to pay the bills. My Mom has not made any trips either. She is in her 60s, still works full time. She survives, but that is about all. After somehow making it though decades of torture at the hands of my father, all she had left in her was energy to survive. Recently I heard from my brother that my Mom has lost her will to live. So, now I hope that somehow--in addition to going to her Dr. with her--I can find a way to infuse some life into her during my few days with her.
Below is a story I read a while ago that reminded me that my mission of mercy with my Mom this week is less about doing... and more about being.

It was 77-year-old Jungian analyst and author Marion Woodman who captured my imagination with her address on “Women, Power and Soul.” 
Her questions were clear: “How do you hold presence for others? How do you hold love for others, with no agenda? Who really saw you and heard you and didn’t ask for something in return?”
Her message was compelling, and yet it paled in comparison to what I heard next.
During a stay in India, Marion became very sick with dysentery, captive in her hotel room for weeks. Finally, desperate to escape the room, she gingerly made her way to the hotel foyer one afternoon to sit and write a letter to her husband. Sitting quite near the end of a long, empty couch, she began to write.
Soon, though there were many other seats available, a very large brown woman came and squeezed between Marion and the end of the couch, so close to her that their arms were touching, so close that it made it difficult, even impossible, for Marion to write.
Marion scooted away, angry at the invasion of her space. The woman scooted closer, pushing up against her. “Every time I moved, she moved, until,” as Marion described it, “we ended up at the other end of the couch.”
Once she stopped moving away, Marion realized what a nice, big, warm arm the woman had, and so they sat, a thin bird of a pale white woman and a big brown woman, arm to arm. Not sharing a common language, they couldn’t speak, but sat in silence. Marion gave in to the broad warm arm, the presence of the other, and relaxed into her.
The next day, she went again to the hotel foyer to write. And, again, the woman came and sat touching her, next to her, silently. And the third day. And the fourth day, as Marion’s health improved.
This couch dance continued for a week. And one day, a man appeared as the two women finished their silent, warm-armed vigil.
“You’re all right now. My wife won’t come back tomorrow,” he said to Marion, nodding toward her couch compatriot. “Your wife?,” she thought to herself, startled at his intimacy. “Why is she here in the first place?”
She was unprepared for his quiet and simple answer.
“I saw you were dying and I sent her to sit with you. I knew the warmth of her body would bring you back to life,” he said.
It took a moment for the magnitude of his message and the enormity of what these two strangers had done for her to sink in.
“She did save my life,” Marion said quietly in recounting the story. “That this woman would take the time to sit with me…and, most importantly, that I could receive it…
 "That," said Marion Woodman, “is relatedness.”
That is what it means to hold presence for others.
PS- My Mom has always been a brilliant musician. I sure hope I get to hear her play the piano when I am there. When I saw her last, she did sit and play for me. When she was done with her magnificent piece of music, she looked up at me with tears in her eyes and said "I haven't lost it." No, Mom, you haven't.

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Once upon a time in the PNW

It is hard to believe that it has already been 8 years this coming week since the joyous surprise occurred of Multnomah county Oregon opening their doors to issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. We stood in line at the Multnomah County Court house with  thousands of other folks in the rain for a few hours, and then walked over to Keller Auditorium and stood in another line briefly until one of the many officiants provided by Basic Rights Oregon performed our ceremony.
However, thanks to G.W.Bush and the 2004 election, that equal standing lasted just over one year. It was a good year nonetheless.
We are coming up on another election later this year, and I have to admit I am not at all encouraged by the prospects -- the 2012 candidates -- who likely do not have equality for all law-abiding Americans as part of their platform. Oh well, life is not a fairy tale... and that's why I am hard pressed to believe in gay marriage anymore.

 Marriage & Relationship Recognition
 same sex marriage
 gay marriage
 domestic partnership