They called me queer
They stormed in suddenly. It was embarrassing. I was frightened that my long kept secret had become public. I was drenched to the bone with sneering stares. I hated them – though I was taught never to hate myself. The choice I had made was unusual. I’m not sure if I was born this way or if I chose this myself. Let me make this clear to you – I was different! But are we not expected to accept each other despite our diverse lifestyles? Friends stopped calling. Some had been warned to strictly steer clear of my path. Even at home the dynamics had been seriously altered. They called me – queer. From then on I bore the days of misfortune… until when I was almost stoned to death; I heard someone say, ‘He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone.’ What?!? And then I heard, I mean I could literally hear their jaws drop. It was like rain falling on parched land. You should have been there, it was awesome. He was awesome! I have looked into the eyes of many men, but when my eyes met his it was different – my heart didn’t melt nor was it afraid it became stronger and was filled with fear. Here was someone – a big brother – who stood up and flexed his muscles for me. Just when I was beginning to revel in that splendid moment, as I was coming to terms with what he had said and how my enemies in a breathtaking stroke were now embarrassed to the bone, I heard him quietly say to me, ‘Go and sin no more.’ My exhilarating thought process came to a screeching halt, go and sin no more?
Questions for further thought:
1. What does this mean to you?
2. Who are some of the people that come to your mind while reading this?
3. How have you treated them?
4. ‘God loves you the way you are, but he loves you too much to leave you as you are.’ How can we sensitively communicate that it is one thing to love the person and another to tolerate their “sin”?
5. What choices have you made with regards to the way you live your life?
6. How different do you think the response will be to your lifestyle?
7. What is sin? And to what areas of your life can you extend this idea of sin?
- Bobby Thejus
