1. Spring Break

I took my QSU Guy with me to our college group’s spring break trip on Catalina Island.  We held hands, laughed & met so many folks (including a couple of unexpected lesbians), went hiking, got into our first real fight, and spent hours immersed in God’s presense.  Literally: he spent 8hrs/day going through Mark & I learned and utilized prayer ministry round the clock.  It was a christian college retreat.  That we attended together.  O.o

I arrived frustrated and hard-hearted towards most of my peers, dreading the moment someone would tell me how I wasn’t allowed to dine with them or pray for them.  I was already furious at the thought that someone would pour hatred out at QSU Guy, who was genuinely trying to investigate God for himself.  And over the first couple days, it was a very dry experience.  Till God really hit me for being such a loveless jerk (who has ironically always detested uncompassionate people and the use of us vs “them”…).  It’s shocking what He’ll do when you ask and seek.  On a small hiking trail before dinner, my bitterness was turned to concern and compassion for all the students at camp.  Instead of learning about prayer, I found myself praying outwardly, for the hundreds of people I would see and directly with those who would ask us for prayer.  And boy, did we ever see prayers answered!  The impact of that week on my spirit and relationship with God was astounding.

By the end of the week, the only people that confronted QSU Guy or myself  were wanting to thank us for being willing to be authentic and place so much trust in the fellowship.  Straight students and staff told of how they and their peers had been struggling with how to treat homosexuals before the trip, and were grateful to get a chance at living out love.  A counselor who helped establish my branch of InterVarsity laughed as he told me how excited he was to getting back home and answering all the confused and charged questions about the gay couple.  Maybe it was an understatement to say that the impact was astounding…

2. Catering

SB asked me to do appetizers for her wedding.  It was gorgeous. Simple colors, beautiful dress, “country-chic.”  I loved it.  Spent days planning, and did all the shopping and cooking the day of and before the event.  After how loving SB was to me, I was estatic to be able to do anything she would possibly desire, free-of -charge.  QSU Guy & I ended up unoficially being in charge of not just appetizers, but everything SB’s mom worried about.  We ad-libbed when this was happening or where that was; we cut cakes and replenished chocolate fondue; we cleaned and served, on and on an on.  I’ll confess that I love the high of being the person who’s expected to have all the answers and pull off mini-miracles.  The best part what actually hearing SB’s mom thank QSU guy & I for taking the stress off of her.  It’s one thing to do a great job, or be acknowledged for it.  But as a young christian boy with  boyfriend, it means so much more when we were knowingly invited and allowed to take part of such an intimate and special event.  She apparently told everybody that if it weren’t for those 2 boys, the reception would have failed horribly.  And then she tipped us both very generously and unexpectedly.

3. Interview

I got an email from another staff worker that left me in tears:

So, I had a question for you. I have been wanting to write a more in depth prayer letter/article that highlights what God has been doing in the gay community within our Intervarsity chapter and I was wondering if I could interview you? I am planning to ask a few others, but I thought I’d ask you first because I believe that you actually have the most to say since you’ve been a part of Intervarsity the longest.  I believe God has been putting it on my heart to write an honest story about openly gay students in our chapter, how that has affected their faith, and what role has Intervarsity played(the good, the bad and the ugly).

I am also actually going to be doing a 6 week internship with the National Writing Staff Team for Intervarsity/USA this summer and want to take this story back to the headquarters because I believe that the headquarters needs to hear honest stories about the ways that Intervarsity has been a blessing to the gay community AND the ways that Intervarsity has failed to bless the gay community.

Intervarsity needs to hear these stories because I truly believe that it’s only through hearing stories that Intervarsity can continue to grow and change(locally and nationally).

I know that what i am asking you is a big deal and I totally would respect your decision if you would rather not take part in an interview.  I am so thankful for you and for the ways that you have really loved so many people in Intervarsity and I hope you know that you are nothing but a blessing to us!

I was stunned by the bravery of what she’s doing, and awed by how graciously she’s going about it.  We’ll be meeting this week.

4. Feast

I had dinner with Ms Kathy/Lady on Fire and 12 gorgeous GLBT folks from near and far.  Actually it was a full out feast, surrounded by Christians who’ve dedicated themselves to Christ’s work.  Ms Kathy does it all, and just won a contest to minister to the GLBT community at Pride Parades: Then there was her activist daughter (the other token straight), the feisty Native American who rocked their world, a young Filipino who feeds people in his spare time (ie: catered for 150 & did our feast the same day, b/c that’s how he expresses love), the oddly-paired guys who date long-distance, love youtube and live some of the most righteous lives imaginable, a mysterious woman, the creator of the affirming christian radio and a new, brilliant blog 5 dogs and my beau (who I’d probably describe as flirting with Jesus, after spring break) and myself.  Stirred together with great food, some Apples-to-Apples, and light libations resulted in a hilarious night of goodness.

5-1000. Oh, the little blessings do definitely consider, but these were what struck me as particularly surprising and glaring.

Love and Peace.

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