1. The Thanksgiving holiday in my family is simple - we have a turkey bowl, dinner, and other traditions, but for the most part it's just an opportunity to spend time with each other and share the things we are thankful for.
2. Thanksgiving is way less stressful when I don't have to plan around the schedule of my wife's parents and extended family - just my own.
3. The Church teaches that we need to love everyone, in every lesson, every talk, and every manual. There's no better place to find myself.
4. The people in the Church are horribly imperfect. I can see examples on both sides of the scale - from people with obvious pride and superiority complexes, to people with hidden pride and addiction, and know that I'm just one of many striving to get better.
5. The Book of Mormon gives me peace whenever I need it, and even when I don't think I do.
6. God reminds me that I need to read the Book of Mormon each day, even if it's 2:00 in the morning when I've slowed down enough to be listening.
7. I can always find people in the Church who will love me unconditionally. Sometimes it takes prayer and work, but I can find them.
8. Through priesthood power, my family can be together forever.
9. The gospel gives perspective and peace to the otherwise irreconcilable events of the world.
10-100. A personal relationship with God, promises in my patriarchal blessing, silent words of encouragement in the temple, and messages hidden in the mundane events of everyday remind me that all of my hundreds of righteous dreams and the promises that God has made to me will all come true... in the Lord's time and in His way.
101. I have the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and I can claim it as my own. Who doesn't love MoTab?
102. I somehow landed in a unique, uncovetable spot in the political world - experiences that preserve me from the overwhelming pressures of both sides of the field, and at the same time make me an interesting anomaly for both.
103. The perspective of the gospel opens my heart to people, and gives me the ability to know what I need to do to help them heal their hearts and save their souls.
104-118. I have a living prophet, and apostles, who care about me and plead with the Lord in my behalf... and teach me what I can do to be a better disciple and friend.
119-300. Church music. I have real, honest, good Church music that inspires emotion in me - bringing tears, opening my heart, inspiring change, pushing me to repentance, compelling me to action, overcoming depression, drawing me closer to God... And that music seems to follow me and play accompaniment to the events of my life.
301-1040. I had the blessing to serve for two years as a missionary, standing as a witness of God at all times and in all places, and learning what it meant to literally take the name of Christ upon me and act in His name... fall in love with people and language, and come closer to God as I worked to help others make changes in their lives.
1041-5000. All the people that I've met throughout the world - members of the Church who all faithfully sacrifice to come closer to God and live His commandments. Somehow, I've been blessed to meet many, many people... and to somehow break through the initial veneer to hear about their lives and hopes and dreams. Knowing them, personally, has blessed my life and made me a better man.
5001-9999. The people I've never met in person, but who have touched my life through the Church and its union with technology - from members of the Seventy who speak in Conference to anonymous commenters here on (G)MG from Thailand, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia. Thousands of people who continue to touch and change my life.
10000+. Ten thousand more people to meet, ten thousand more promises to see to fruition, a hundred million blessings from heaven, and at least that many more steps in getting a little bit closer to perfect. The gospel has no ceiling to progression. And the LOrd never tires in helping me grow.
I'm autistic, ex-bipolar, and attracted to other guys (gay/SSA/whatever). More importantly, I'm a son of God and faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons). My life is usually amazing. This is my story of hope, happiness, and faith.
Friday, November 25
10,000 Reasons I'm Grateful to Be a (Gay) Mormon Guy
Labels:
Change,
Daily Schedule,
Faith,
Gratitude,
Hope,
I'm a Mormon guy,
Optimism,
patience,
Testimony
6 comments:
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Thank you so much for you blog, it's really helped me out a ton.
ReplyDeleteReading your blog makes me wish that I could just sit down and talk to you for hours.I recently broke up with one of my best friends. He is gay and the fact he is gay is not why I broke up with him. From the very start I told him that I loved him and that we would always be best friends, but as he continued to make bad choices and fall deeper and deeper into darkness he expected me to be ok with everything.It got to the point where if I didn't want to watch something I was uncomfortable with it was me being against him for being gay.I am not sure how to get through to him that I'm uncomfortable with his other choices and not with his attractions.If you have any advice I would love to hear it.Thank you.
ReplyDeleteKayla:
ReplyDeleteI can share my own experience, and maybe that will help. The most terrifying part of telling anyone about yourself - and this is telling anyone anything, good or bad or strange or unique - is the reality that, because of that newly acquired knowledge, they will leave you, or treat you differently. It's one of the reasons that some people with SSA don't confide in their bishops, even when they should, a reason why they don't take advantage of counseling that could at least help with addiction, and a reason that they go through life without the support of anyone close to them. I know - because I was like that... and still am. I know that God will take care of me, but I'm constantly afraid of doing something that will alienate me from my peers and others around me - for my own sake and theirs. It's hard to bless someone's life when they're ex-friends.
I've been in your friend's situation - standing between choices that could destroy my testimony and deeply, deeply wanting to find peace... and the people who made the biggest difference in my life during those times were those who lived their testimonies, were truly and totally faithful, and never apologized for the love they felt and showed to me. My dad is a good example - even though we weren't close, I knew that he was righteous... and that made all the difference to me.
Be a friend, but don't be alone. Do what is right. Talk about the blessings of the gospel. Pray for him. Hopefully something in this comment feels right to you. Whatever you choose, turn to God and ask what you can do... and He will inspire you, in the moment, in what you can do to lift and serve your friend.
God be with you.
Many great things to be grateful for! It's great your blog helps so many people!
ReplyDeleteYou inspire me to no end. Mahalo brother :)
ReplyDeleteThis should be submitted to the ensign. Loved reading it. Thank you.
ReplyDelete