Being a Bridge: Accepting God's Love

"God is Love."

I've heard that many, many times before.  But it's taken me a little over 28 years to finally feel it and believe it.

It seems simple, right? But now I see that God's Love allows us to accept ourselves for who we truly are and then take the ultimate risk of being our whole, honest selves as we interact with those around us.  That, my friends, has NOT been simple or easy for me.  And I would guess that many people find true self-acceptance to be a daily struggle, whether gay, lesbian, bi, transgendered, queer, OR straight.

This morning, as I think ahead to Pride weekend here in Chicago and then to my Pink Menno work in Pittsburgh, I'm aware that surrendering to my true self and being willing to receive God's love are choices I must actively make each day.  I'm thrilled to be going into full-on Pink Menno mode again. But I'm happy to say that this time around, I actually know, feel, and trust that I AM loved unconditionally by God.  I've known it intellectually for a long time, but it's only been recently that I've allowed this love (God) to find its way into my spirit.

I have knew motivation for spreading the Good News of Acceptance for All and Hope for an Inclusive Church. My motivation is simple and yet profoundly urgent for me: I don't want anyone in my extended human family to experience the sense of self-denial, self-hatred, fear, and isolation that I've struggled with my entire life as the result of assuming I'm unacceptable in God's eyes. No one deserves to struggle alone when there is so much love and beauty and connection to be experienced in the world.

For me, God's love is the bridge from my human imperfection, self-doubt, and pain to the unfathomable beauty of self-acceptance, love, and true connection with others.

I have hope. And as a child of God, I will Be a Bridge by sharing my story with anyone who will hear it and by striving to make my life a  witness to the transformative power of God's love for me and for you, just as we are.

How will you "Be a Bridge"?