Re: Coming from experience

Comico- you are so welcome. It makes me so happy to know that my words could be a comfort to you. And yes the gay community is out there and understands how you and I feel. And there are plenty of heterosexuals who love and accept us fully for who we are.

But you also have to remember that there are many people out there who don't understand our lives and our experiences. And that makes sense as they have not had to walk in our shoes. So many people out there believe in the stereotypes portrayed in the media and have blind faith in what their religious leaders tell them. They cling on to anything they can to distract them from their often empty and unfulfilled lives. They are so full of pain and are seeking outwardly for something to make them whole again. But alas, nothing works. That's because the only way to be whole is to look within and free yourself through self-love and self-acceptance. It's about freeing yourself from the pain that we carry throughout so much of our lives. A pain that obscures our true innocence.

But I have realized after much time that my life, your life, and the life of a gay person affords us a wonderful opportunity to realize this life lesson. The fact that we are not fully accepted by our society puts us in a position of having to learn self-love and self-acceptance. Though the road is difficult at times, it is ever so rewarding. This path has brought me to a place where I now know God. Not a God of sin, judgment and vengeance, but a God of love, absolute and unconditional love. This path has taught me courage and strength. It has taught me to look my fears in the face and move forward leaving them behind me. This path gave me a new and unbelievable appreciation and respect for all life in its many splendid forms. A compassion and respect for those who face diversity and persevere. I no longer look for outward approval or satisfaction from material things. I know that true joy is looking inward and simply being. To be me, to be the perfection that I am.

If I were not gay, I may have missed out on all of this and to me that would have been quite a shame.

Peace be with you...