Nineteen Years

Today is our 19-year anniversary.

Hard to imagine that so much time has gone by.

On our one year anniversary, Dennise said something like "Wow, the year has really flown."

I replied, inelegantly, "Are you kidding? It's been the longest year of my life."

It wasn't as bad as it sounds. Well, maybe it was. I paid for that one, and I deserved it.

I meant that a lot of things had happened and it felt like a long year.

Now? The time seems like it's flown. I cannot fathom that almost 20 years has passed. It seems like a dream. It seems like yesterday. All the cliches fit. The time passes SO quickly.

OK, now for the truth. I love her more today than I ever imagined I could. Especially in these last few years, thing seem to really be clicking on a very deep, very powerful, level. I'm not sure what accounts for all it. It just feels like we're a team. It feels like we're more understanding and caring of each other.

Maybe it's that we let things go. Maybe it's that we're more willing to work through things. Maybe it's age. Maybe it's good therapy. Maybe all this and more.

I hear horror stories of marriages that just drift off into painful disconnection.

I am so pleased that's not happening with us.

As happens many years, our Anniversary falls during the Kerrville Folk Festival. So, I am here, writing these words. And she's at home today. Again, another example of just how awesome she is.

Dennise: I love you....and...

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Post-General Conference Sermon

For those outside our Northaven community, you might be interested in my sermon at our Reconciling United Methodist Church yesterday.

Feel free to leave comments if you wish...EF




(At one point, you will hear me pause. Our member, George Crawford, was celebrating his 90th Birthday, and perhaps felt a little more freedom than usual to address me while I was preaching...)
 
As always, if you like this post, then "share it" or "like" it on Facebook by clicking the box below, so others can see too...) 

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I Know Families Like Zach's. They Bless Me.

I know this will sound like bragging, but I know kids like Zach.
I know mothers like Zach's mothers.

God blesses us by bringing them to us as members of the Northaven community.
(Sometimes as full members. Sometimes as "friends")

Being a family is hard work. It takes the love and support of many. That "many" ought to include a loving church community. Most people understand that the support of a church community is one of the things that ever makes "family" possible --for any of us, gay or straight-- in the first place.

I'm proud that Northaven members take their calling to love and care for children and families very seriously. I'm proud of the many traditional and LGBT families that feel called to live together in community in our church. I'm proud that we've placed an emphasis on ministries with children, youth, and families, and that we're able to model what the church can be. (Anywhere, really)

I am pleased when we can be a blessing to LGBT families in our community.
(more below)

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Given the lack of progress at General Conference, I can only hope and pray these families I know, who have found Northaven over the years, stay around now.

Frankly, every single year after General Conference, some leave. Entire families read the headlines, see the lack of change, and decide that, despite the love they feel at our particular church, they cannot support a denomination that does not fully support their family.

Others do not announce they are leaving, but just slip away quietly, never telling a soul. We just stop seeing their faces; the faces of their children.

So, tonight I continue to pray that one day our denomination can come to fully know the grace and blessing of families like Zach's too, and to know the blessing that they can be to any church.

Because, the truth is, as a denomination?

The loss is ours.

As always, if you like this post, then "share it" or "like" it on Facebook by clicking the box below, so others can see too...)

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