What a beautiful, moving, skillfully written piece. I don't have anything profound to say about it, only that this was a wonderful way to start my morning. So thanks!
How very brave of you, Charlene, to share your story with the world. I have someone in my life who chooses to live outside the expected norms of our world. She does it silently, neither admitting, nor hiding, being gay. Yet, those who love her choose to accept her, and her friends, at our gatherings while still “praying” for her silently. My lifelong mantra has always been “judge not, lest ye be judged.” I know-and I believe you know-there is a HIGHER POWER and when my heart breaks for all who are judged “less than,” I think of a xeroxed copied paper hung outside a clerk’s window at a department store. I was having difficulty discerning “where I went wrong” in the life of this person who is gay. The sign read, simply,
This is a beautiful essay, Charlene. Thank you for sharing it. I was once a pretend "church lady" but for different reasons. It is amazing how many things we "become" to hide who we really are, even when we don't realize it when we are doing it. I look forward to reading more of what you write.
Such a beautiful description of what must be a very painful life. Sending love.
What a beautiful, moving, skillfully written piece. I don't have anything profound to say about it, only that this was a wonderful way to start my morning. So thanks!
Based on this essay I am so excited about the memoir you are working on! Best of luck with it - I hope I get to read it one day soon
How very brave of you, Charlene, to share your story with the world. I have someone in my life who chooses to live outside the expected norms of our world. She does it silently, neither admitting, nor hiding, being gay. Yet, those who love her choose to accept her, and her friends, at our gatherings while still “praying” for her silently. My lifelong mantra has always been “judge not, lest ye be judged.” I know-and I believe you know-there is a HIGHER POWER and when my heart breaks for all who are judged “less than,” I think of a xeroxed copied paper hung outside a clerk’s window at a department store. I was having difficulty discerning “where I went wrong” in the life of this person who is gay. The sign read, simply,
“God don’t make no junk.” AMEN
This is a beautiful essay, Charlene. Thank you for sharing it. I was once a pretend "church lady" but for different reasons. It is amazing how many things we "become" to hide who we really are, even when we don't realize it when we are doing it. I look forward to reading more of what you write.