Its late and I am lighting my lamp.

One of many bible stories I like is the one about ten maidens who guard their oil to keep their lamps lit so their bridegroom can find them.  It is a poetic way to say, Be Prepared.  Maybe it is different as the maidens hold intent, they expect a knock on the door and the night visitor will find them as their lamps are lit, passing the dark doorways. 

It is very late, olympics have dwindled to skiing, Grace has gone to bed and my facebook world has graduated from playground to serious.  My interest in christian theology has moved from personal to political.  Standing on a corner outside of Saddleback Church has changed from expressing irritation with Obama, asking Rick Warren to set the metronome for a presidential term, to standing as witness to a minister stirring up hate. 

Last night I watched The Reporter, a HBO documentary about Nicholas Kristof going to Congo.  One of the interviewees, Samantha Power said something that really moved me.  She said that Nicholas had the courage to be redundant.  He took the chance to say something again and again as it was truth and truth needed to be told until it is heard.

I really understand what she was talking about.  Day after day I post something about Uganda #18, the Kill the Gays bill.  I learn a bit more; its roots, the burgeoning movement, the domino theory as it bleeds across borders to Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana ~ in 80 countries homosexuality is a crime.  My interest began officially on November 4, 2008 and who is to say what would have happened if Prop 8 had failed; lots of weddings I suppose.  I do not think it coincidence that I met Dan Choi before he was a national leader, I was compelled to go to the National Equality March and became a citizen of Facebook.

I wrote that facebook was fun.  I wrote that facebook was effective.  I wrote that facebook was a simple way to collect steam.  Tonight it became a bellwether as breaking news from Uganda was posted.  A man found murdered, suspected as an outcome of the anti-gay march in Jinja this last weekend.  A virtual friend posts her warning to the LGBT of Uganda to take EXTREME CAUTION until further notice.  All precautions should be taken to ensure your own safety.

What will it take for LGBT in the US to understand that the normalizing of homosexuality in the West will advance it for the world.  We must stop the religions right's transformation movement; it is showing up already in Newark and Hawaii.  Yes, let us work for marriage and military service, but know that our demand for civil rights here is a matter of life and death.  I celebrate that we can talk of families, children, weddings and soldiering instead of hiding from those who hunt LGBT people. 

Double your efforts, light you lantern and hang it in the window.  Shine it brightly for all the world to see.  We are well, we are diverse, we are equal.

Comments

[Melissa]

I'm lighting my lamps too.