A Change of Opinion

A Change of Opinion

(“John the Baptist preached that all the people of Israel needed to repent of their sins and turn to God and be baptized.” Acts 13:24)

Some lives are not loud, denouncing every opposition.
Some lives refrain from mockery, shocking the elite believers.
Some lives are small voices in the choir.

Some shout at every opportunity, imitating prophets,
eating crickets, sucking molasses, and telling the masses
to buy up their solo releases while there is still time.

Some songs use subterfuge, laying their eggs in the middle of the night.
Some rhymes are evasive, several degrees from perfection.
Some poetry sojourns until the earth turns to face the sun.

Some rants pierce foreheads, destroying the minds they try to mend.
Some sermons shatter the cracks, demanding tears for proof of devotion.
Some arguments inflame canyons, making the rivers impassable.

But I am changed at the first hint of a smile.

A Christian Dad Sounds Off on the Lies About Transgender People and Restrooms

(Shared from "The Good Men Project: goodmenproject.com)

A Christian Dad Sounds Off on the Lies About Transgender People and Restrooms

Bruce Pagano is a devout Christian with strong principles. He respects those of his faith with whom he may disagree. He has a tough time, however, with those who deal in complete falsehoods. That is what he sees in today’s current discourse. He tells us why.

—

If you had to explain it to someone from another country, what would you tell them appears to be the biggest issues facing our country? Our economy? The millions of people who live in poverty? Our hard broken justice system? The fact that a crazy misogynist has grabbed the GOP nomination essentially unchallenged? Nope, nope, nope and nope. Oddly, you would likely be closer if you said our biggest issue, especially within the conservative Christian camp, is whether a person should be able to use the bathroom of the gender with which they identify. Realistically this has been a point of contention and debate in one form or another for quite a few years, with instances like bakers refusing to make cakes for same gender weddings, the push to legalize same gender marriage, local government officials refusing to execute their civic duty when it comes to issuing said marriage licenses and a myriad of other rights that members of the LGBTQ community are working toward gaining. And in all that, Christians have been some of the loudest voices of opposition.

A Thin Prism

A Thin Prism

You false distance that deceives friends and others,
Oh darkness that envelops mind and affection,
Oh words used to force graciousness beyond gravity’s pull.

The debates created to win a side have consigned
the lower lights of the spectrum to shine no more.

Oh light, rainbow full of hues, we abuse your beauty
and demand, not simple understanding,
but a full confession of indigo
and complete rejection of red.

I told you I would no longer address
arguments begun by lies. I clarified what
I did not say,
and the lies took hold anyway. And the stiff-arm
leaves me further away.

Please leave your anger in the parlor
before you enter your office to write
another letter that leaves little left to say.
We are all prism and light, some distance
is needed to see the artwork; great distance
is quackery masquerading as truth.

I reaffirm my stanza fourth,
you will find what you came looking for
no matter my words, my photos, my broken pieces
some see as clues to a crime,
some sing as blues and the times
(genuine), evidence of honest attempts
to be the red or green expected by the
green or the red. You will find either, both,
or none

Depending on what you predicted.