Imagination -

"There is nothing ''out there'' that's holding you down, - you are limiting yourself only with your own imagination. And your greatest limits are not even the ''cannot'' and the ''should not'', but the places where your imagination hasn't yet gone at all. There has never been a better time for you to open your eyes, let the imagination soar and see what more is possible."

This was my message today from a FB application I like to use occassionally. Just like a song I'll hear occassionally on Klove that fills my heart and brings tears to my eyes, this struck a chord with me. I'm the first to admit that I have some creative talents, i.e. stained glass, decorating, etc. but imagination isn't one of my strengths. Perhaps because I haven't masters that 'Dream Big' mentality.

I read my Pastor's blog in the wee hours of the morning and after months of searching for his next step he has come to realize that his 'next step' is thinking in a new way. I too need to begin to think in a new way. I need to recapture that postive mindedness I possess; that attitude that suggests it 'can' be done despite previous failures. I love when people on committees or at work tell me they've already tried something and it didn't work. It's my opportunity to say, hey, let's learn from our past and try again. Nothing is impossible.

I have no idea what God has in store for us in the future. Sometimes is exciting and at other times it's intimidating. At times I've been in complete denial that I am deeply rooted in a segment of the population that has been utterly persecuted. I think back over the years and remember how drawn I have been to the stories of the persecution of Jews and African Americans. Frankly, it disgusts me to the core. And in the larger scope of things I see the GLBT community in a similar situation. The Jews were God's chosen and yet the crimes of the Nazi's still horrified generations. So many people acted as if this would never happen in our country.
And yet we proceeded a decade later to do the very same to the African American community.
Have we learned anything? The GLBT community is misunderstood, ripped from their families, blocked from the church, killed, mocked, spit upon ...

I have developed a crazy notion over the past 15 years. An idea that suggests that God has a beautiful place prepared for GLBT persons in His ministry and His kingdom. I believe we were created the way we are -gay, straight, bisexual, transgendered, hermaphrodites, etc - and I believe we are here to open doors and build bridges across the nations and across the pews.
Perhaps I do have imagination after all.

I do not believe we will see this perfect community of humanity until we enter the gates of heaven but I believe as each generation comes into their own that the message will continue to gain momentum and be more openly received. No generation is ever lost. I've found wonderful acceptance through those of my parents generation and even older. But I believe our children will be the generation that makes this greatest impact on our world in this area. They are our future and we should be investing in them, building them up, providing guidance, structure, discipline and love. We need to step it up as parents, mentors and teachers. We cannot allow our children to inherit the ignorance of our past or the carelessness on our television sets.

My prayer is that my child accepts that she is a wonderful child of God. That her two moms were chosen by God to raise her. That her beautiful and loving extended family cares deeply for her. That God has set her apart to do something powerful with her life. To those whom much is given much is expected! Amen!