You Used to Say Live and Let Live . . .

Last night, I had the house to myself for the first time in years. Yes, years. Myself. Alone. The hubby had a gig, the older kid was at a sleepover and the little one was unexpectedly invited next door to watch a movie. OMG. What to do? I was invited to the neighbor's house for wine but decided to take advantage of this epic, possibly once-in-a-lifetime event and do something that I'm not normally allowed to do: take control of the remote.

As monkey bundled up to trudge across the front yard, I hugged him and said, "I am 100% madly, passionately in love with you. Just so you know." He replied, "I just farted. Just so YOU know." Ah, yes, it's going to be good to be home alone.

I decided to watch (finally) Milk. Not that I was surprised given the movie's rave reviews but, wow, Sean Penn's performance was unbelievable. Charming, moving, arresting, loving, inspirational and tragic.

Yet, as I watched all of the Anita Bryant footage, some of which I vaguely remember from my childhood, I couldn't help but wonder if any of my Bible study girlfriends had seen this movie. I love them but we frequently differ in our points of view. (Case in point: They wanted to get together to pray during election night while keeping Fox News on in the background. Fox News? Thanks but no thanks.)

Having grown up in a liberal, somewhat tree hugging, left-leaning family and been taught to respect others (except Richard Nixon), I bring a radically different outlook to our small group. While I listen and really do understand their point of view (i.e., that throughout the Bible, God threatens to destroy entire sin-filled cultures and we can chose to live by his laws or by ever-shifting cultural norms that increasingly accept deviant behaviors), I still have a hard time reconciling the issue -- especially when some of my close friends are gay.

I turned once to an ex-coworker and asked him to explain (which he did along the lines of the aforementioned rationale). In response, I stated, "But no one asks to be gay; they're born gay. How can that make it wrong?" He responded, "No one asks to be a child molester either. Does that make them okay, too?" Touche.

Some of my Bible-toting girlfriends would say, "Love the sinner, hate the sin." I kind of like this response because Jesus hung with prostitutes, tax collectors, etc. and he loved them. And he loves me with all of my many issues. Who is to say that anyone else's sins are greater than mine? But when I tried that line on for size with my girlfriend Laurie who lives with the love of her life, Mary, she asked, "So do you think that living my life in a committed relationship with my soul mate is really a sin?" Good question. Do I? Really? I don't think so. But the most important thing for me is the following quote from Matthew 7:5 "You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

In other words, I need to focus on myself and living my life in the best manner possible. The hell with everyone else (just kidding). To that point, there is a Facebook group which sums up my current leaning, "Against Gay Marriage? Then Don't Get One and Shut the F* Up."

Sounds good to me.

Pocket Full of Posies

I was recently asked what biblical character I identify with the most. I had never really asked myself that question before (who has?) but the answer came readily: Joseph. Not because my siblings hated me (at least to the best of my knowledge) but rather because he, to me, is the "patron saint" of the fact that no matter what bad things may happen in your life, something good can come out of them. Yet, during our most difficult times, we don't have a clear picture of the future and simply feel anguish.

In Joseph's case, after being left for dead, sold into slavery, and later imprisoned, he became the chief adviser of the Pharaoh in Egypt, advised the country to stockpile food in case of famine and, in turn, saved his family from starvation when they came seeking food. Never would have guessed that outcome when he was abandoned in a ditch, huh?

I bring this up because, a couple of weeks ago, Son #2 decided to nickname me Posie. He calls it my "stage name." Whatever. I happen think it's cute; almost as cute as "mama." (He has also taken to rubbing the sides of my tummy to make me laugh. He's adorable.)

Anyhoo, I just went to Behind the Name to read about my real name (who, by the by, was a nun/saint who was thrown in a vat of molted lead by the Moors) and randomly decided to see what Posie meant. In addition to the obvious floral reference, it's diminutive of Josephine which tracks back to the feminine form of Joseph. But of course.

OM Is Where the Heart Is

Son #1 enjoying the sunshine yesterday a.m.



He came home from VBS (i.e., vacation bible school) last night with a Bible verse from Matthew 19:26, "With God, all things are possible."

Son #1: Mama, do you believe that's true? Because I want to walk on water.

Sheesh! And I want to win the lottery!

Peace Out

I always struggle a bit when posting about anything smacking of Christianity because so many people find it offensive and send me emails or make comments. But, I have to say, it's such a big part of who I am that I feel I would be negligent (at best) if I wasn't being true to myself. So for my non-believer friends, you might not want to read this post.

Anyway, I bring this up because I intended to get up at the crack of dawn and head back into work really early today because I have some serious deadlines and three important client meetings in the next two days. Last night, as I worked well past my bedtime, I was mentally exhausted and basically angst-riddled that my boss and I had committed to these unreasonable time frames with our clients. Note: Not one deadline is unreasonable -- just all of them lumped together is ridiculous. I kept thinking, "why didn't we just tell the last client, 'yes, we would love to help' but cannot begin for two weeks"? Is it that urgent that something that hasn't been addressed for years suddenly gets my immediate attention?

As I was waking up, I felt called, instead, to do my bible study. I countered with a quick "but I need to get to work before I have a nervous breakdown" thought but was immediately convinced that my bible study was more important. Fancy that.

So I went downstairs and opened to the next chapter Romans:15--which is all about how we serve God by serving others. Hello! And it even had this little gem from the Apostle Paul that I loved, "I have been bold enough to write about some of these points, knowing that all you need is this reminder."

Yes, on this excruciatingly painful deadline-driven day, God knew that I needed a gentle reminder. Again, again, again: it's not all about me. I am now able to begin my day with a joyful heart so that I may be a stronger encouragement to others.

Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

Bible Study (or Not)

Last month, I showed up at my small group Bible study to find all the women drinking margaritas.

Before I arrived, they asked my friend Meg if she thought I would be offended!

Tonight, we're going out on the ring leader's boat for an end-of-summer get together with appetizers and cocktails before we get back into our Beth Moore "Believing God" DVD series in September.

I really know how to find 'em, don't I? To think I was nervous to join a small group for fear that I would be an outcast. Instead, I found myself with a bunch of predominantly 40-something women who are not only a riot to be with but also brutally open and honest. I love to be held accountable for my behavior/actions by others who can understand me without passing judgement.

More tequila anyone?