Underdogs: For those who haven't been on Facebook or watched tv this week, marriage rights are being discussed again. Coming in to the Capitol, you pass groups of people from all over. Holding signs of phrases that passionately protect what they believe in. I couldn't help but think how I'm always a fan of the underdog. The one who rises above and defies all the odds. I think that's why I am a such sports fan. Mark Schwan once wrote "there is something so unifying in sport in its simplest form. athletes rise above themselves and touch greatness and, in doing so, remind us all that we also have greatness inside of us". We see those figures come out and do things that didn't even seem possible. We see that and for a second we forget our fears and feel like nothin can stop us.
Those protestors, both sides, captivated me just by their desire to rise up. As a Christian, I sometimes feel pressured to instantly be against "them" In the marriage issue. I always knew you were told we are against this. Being here reminded me when my view in this exploded and collided with everything I believed in. It was my last year at PLNU and one of my closest friends came out. I couldn't wrap my mind around it. He was someone whose faith was always an example to me. It was strong, passionate, real, and something I wished I could have that depth in. I always looked up to it I couldn't figure out how someone so in love with Jesus could decide to be this.
Over the next few weeks, I listened to his story. I heard of how it wasn't something he chose but something he felt and was real and his initial response was to be honest and work in it. My ideas on this topic were jumbled and I couldn't tell you what I believed. This scared me. I felt like an awful Christian and someone who wavered in their faith. I prayed for answers
Soon, his church quickly hurt my friend. I watched his outlook change and his heart become hurt. I watched as we all became confused. How do you love your friend yet be against what your always been told to?
That's when so much more became clear. No longer was I being a "good Christian," but I was being Jesus. My heart changed to loving him, being an ear, encouraging, and throwing down my judgements and quest to look like I had it all together. All I knew was to love him. I couldn't solve it, show him, I couldn't interpret verses with him or others, I couldn't understand their struggles. All I could understand was that commandment to love. Since then, I feel like when I don't understand why things go a way in my life, why my new student slept in a bed for the first time in 9 years, why things happen in the world I don't understand that all I can do is resort back to this. It makes sense now why he said this is the second greatest commandment. When it doesn't make sense. Simply just resort to this. Today these protests were underdogs fighting and all I could do was love with a gentle smile as I walked by.
Closed eyes: throughout these streets, there was a sense of hustle and bustle. I was learning to shut it out and slow it down in my head. Find the slow moments. This street performer was one thing that caught my eye. His saxophone could e heard around the corner and down the street. His tune became the soundtrack of politicians heading to lunch, tourists snapping photos, kids running through the fairmount park. When he came in to view I loved the way he closed his eyes. I found my slow moment here. He was expressive, passionate, and he couldn't keep from bending at the waist leaning forward like he couldn't wait for that next piece in the composition. He had no clue who was watching, who was tipping, or what everyone else was doing. He was in his world and found a slow moment there. My friend told me he did this in Mexico in order to live. He told me he couldn't open his eyes he didn't want to know. He just wanted to play and feel and trust that rent and dinner would be provided. Thanks to the jolly man on constitution drive who let me share in his slow moment in this fast place.
G. Bliss
