No, not me.

After 5 years, I've regained contact with one of my best friends from high school. Lets call him "Q." (not because he'd care if I use his name, I suppose...eh, it's kinda cool to use code names...plus Q was on James Bond.) He graduated a year after myself ('97) and "came out of the closet" that Thanksgiving. I had heard that much, but had otherwise lost track of him for the last 5 years or so. We talked on the phone last night for 2 hours. It was a good talk.

This is pretty new ground for me. I'm a conservative Southern Baptist church worker from the 'burbs who now goes to a Christian college in the rural midwest with probably less than 30 African-Americans, let alone any homosexuals. I was shocked to hear him use the phrase "coming out of the closet." I just don't know what terminology is appropriate. Is it bad to say "gay?" I really don't know. I don't have much experience in this area.

Ok. So I'm pretty cool about the whole deal. You see, the last year or so of high school we spent talking and praying about his homosexual feelings. Really, I wasn't too suprised when I heard the news--disappointed, maybe, but not suprised. He's confident that this is right for him. Q is a Christian, as best as I, an outside observer of his decision, can tell. He knows that I disagree entirely with his lifestyle, but I try hard to respect his decision. I think most Southern Baptists would have a hard time with that. Like I told Q, there are bigger issues in life than this.

In my Senior Seminar class, we are discussing those "essentials" again that I went through last fall. Here's a link that will open in a new window to that discussion. For instance, I have decided that I would have a tough time ministering with someone who belives that Jesus is not the only way to heaven, but I have no problem being a friend to a homosexual.

Q is a person, not just a sexual identity. Did I mention that he is a phenominal trombone player (we sat next to each other in band class), or that his is blind? You'd be suprised how much rhythm blind people have. Right now, he's in the middle of some pretty tough times. He graduated college last May and is having a tough time finding a job in the current market. His boyfriend (oh boy, I hope that's the PC term to use), Michael has HIV, and it has progressed to the point that he can't work and he's in an unbelieveable amount of pain. Q can't drive, and he needs someone to stay home to care for Michael, so that makes the job situation even more difficult.

These issues are more pressing right now than debating with some right-wing jerk about his sexual preference. In my eyes, a person's spiritual condition is more important. If God doesn't like Q's sexual preference, He'll work on him in due time; Q knows my feelings, and I'm not going to change anyone...only God can. I'm concerned with the heartache of watching a loved one in excruciating pain; the stress of finding a job; the struggle to be independent.

Please keep Q and Michael in your prayers. I guess (if you missed the point of this post) that you can pray that God would make them un-gay, but I'm going to be praying that they would find thier comfort and rest in Jesus Christ alone.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." --Jesus Christ, Matthew 11:28,29