This afternoon, John and I sat out on the covered veranda at the back of the house and settled in for a private conversation at my request. As we were preparing for a business meeting the following day to discuss our moving forward in collaborative ministry, I thought we needed to put a few things on the table for discussion so that we didn't enter blindly into this enterprise.
After reviewing the history of our relationship and mutually giving thanks for it, I told John that I thought it was important for us to acknowledge the risk involved with what we were proposing to do. I told him that if one was ever inclined to "Google" my name, it would be easy to discover that I'm gay. I wanted him to know that I was concerned that in the future his association with me could pose risks for his ministry.
John's response, which I paraphrase: I know what kind of a person you are, i.e. I know you are a man of God. I know the Holy Spirit is calling us into this collaborative ministry. Therefore, we must move forward in spite of the risk.
I was brought to tears by this response though it did not come as a surprise. The tears were tears of joy that the Lord of Love would lead us to such a bond of affection. My initial reaching out in friendship has been blessed by what is now a mutual relationship not only with John, but with his whole family.
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