“The reason we are talking about sex all the time is because when we are done with that we will have to start talking about money.” So sayeth the Dean, quoting someone else. When all of Episcopism had its chasuble in a wad over consecrating a gay high priest a few years back, the Great Temple shrugged. We had already been through that one. Were going through it, as a matter of fact, around the time my Sweet Lady and I got hitched. Technically speaking it was the sacrament of marriage as opposed to the sacrament of ordination, but really any sacrament will do, will it not?
Sitting there in the pews, my Sweet Lady up with the Famous Tongues of Fire, I had to admit that I sort of cringed when the statement regarding marriage was being read. Of course I was fine with it, this blessing of unions, but what about people who were visiting that day? What would someone who did not know us think? The more I listened, the more I realized that this was an invitation to everyone in the room and beyond to really know us as we are. It was also an invitation to me to get real about the vows I was fixing to take in a couple of weeks or so. I mean, I thought I loved my Sweet Lady, but I had never loved anyone else like that before. How did I know? And if I did not know, how could these people in this temple know? And the answer I heard that day was, “Oh we know, and we know because we recognize it in who you are, not because you look like the picture.” I was relieved. Mostly.
So why do we who have experienced this continue to argue with words about it with those who disagree with our actions? Why do we not look for ways to bring what we have experienced to more people so that they can experience it too? Maybe because we fear what other doors that will open up. If we stretch this relationship thing far enough, where will it end? We already bless unions. Heck, we’d even marry gay people tomorrow given the go ahead. Isn’t that enough?
Not close. Once we have the sexual orientation thing put to bed (yeah, I said it) we have the poverty thing. And that’s when the rubber meets the road fo realz. Because as it is written in The Book of The Jerk, Scene 23 Verse 41: “It’s not the money, it’s the stuff!” I’m not ready to part with it. Not by a long shot. Yes, Jesus came to preach to the poor, but he enlisted the capitalists to get the work done. Like James and John from yesterday’s post? “Put down your nets and leave your boats; turn off your computer and put away the efing iPod! You’re coming with me to do real work, fisherboy. I will make you a fisherMAN!”
Who, me, pawn my axe to come work for you? I’d rather fight about gay marriage, thanks.