Reconcile

Today is Ash Wednesday in the Christian tradition. It is a day for self examination and repentance from the things in our lives that are harmful to our relationship with God and our spiritual life, relationship to ourselves and relationships with our neighbors. What is holding me back from a deeper connection to my Creator and my spiritual life? What are some ways that I have not respected and loved myself? How might I have harmed those around me with my words, actions or inactions? These are some of the questions that Ash Wednesday poses to us.

It also represents an opportunity for new beginnings, setting a new course in life, and projecting new intentions and goals for being a better more loving person. Of course everyday represents a new opportunity but for me, ritual is an important part of how I make meaning out of the things in my life.

I want to be the best person that I can be and to reconcile with those whom I have harmed as well as those who have harmed me. I invite you to take some time today for self-examination, for making peace with God, self and neighbor, and for projecting a new vision for the path ahead that includes more love and less fear. Life is short. Live it to the fullest.

NOH8: Interview with Josh Noblitt, Adam Bouska, and Jeff Parshley

Special thanks to Carlton Mackey and Visionphilms for producing this film and of course to Nikki Noto for the hard work put in towards making the NoH8 Atl event a huge success!

For Neda

I had the amazing opportunity yesterday to meet highly esteemed journalist and wonderful human being Saeed Kamali Dehghan at the Emory University Center for Ethics screening ofthe award winning film, For Neda. This film tells the story of an Iranian woman named Neda Agha-Soltan who was tragically killed by a government sniper's bullet during peaceful election protests in Iran on June 20, 2009. The shooting was captured on several camera phones and within moments went viral all over the globe and became the face and international symbol of the struggle of the Iranian people for freedom and justice. Neda's story, as told through the heroic journalism of Saeed Kamali Dehghan, was extremely moving to me as I reflected on the perseverance of the human spirit in the face of death and even beyond death.
Though I did not know Neda I know that she is my sister. I am truly inspired and I hold her name in thought and prayer as I try to order my life in a way that honors her memory. Much respect to Saeed for his courage and hard work in making this film possible. Do check it out!

‘Conflicting identities’ and a lesson in forgiveness

‘Conflicting identities’ and a lesson in forgiveness

Solidarity

My friend, Rabbi Joshua Lesser of Congregation Bet Haverim in Atlanta wrote the above referenced piece, "'Conflicting identities’ and a lesson in forgiveness,"
last week as part of his response to the recent announcement of the dates for the 2011 Atlanta Pride festivities October 8-9, which directly conflicts with one of the most important Jewish holidays of the year, Yom Kippur, which begins at sundown on October 7 and ends at sundown on October 8 this year.
Though I find myself in the minority when it comes to being a part of the LGBTQ community in our culture, I find myself in the majority in a host of other ways, including religious tradition. I too was saddened to learn of the oversight by the Atlanta Pride Committee in scheduling but was filled with respect and gratitude at Rabbi Lesser's response which examines the deeper meaning of Yom Kippur and calls all stakeholders in the situation to a truer sense of relationship with each other and creating Beloved Community together.
Yom Kippur focuses on the themes of atonement, forgiveness and repentance. Rabbi Lesser states that "Yom Kippur dictates us to:

• Ask for forgiveness
• Forgive in the face of true remorse
• Cultivate humility and gratitude
• Be honest
• Seek restoration and healing
• Let compassion and mercy temper justice
• Do not give into temptation
• Aspire to be one’s best self"

What beautiful words in the face of disappointment and pain. I know I have a lot to learn fom Rabbi Lesser's example. May we all seek out opportunities apply these principles to our lives and to stand in solidarity with others as we continue our quest for Beloved Community.

Loving yourself

Valentine's Day for some of us can be a glaring reminder of our healthy and robust singleness. Today I am mindful of the commandment to "Love your neighbor as yourself" and I am trying to fulfill this commandment today by intentionally showing love to myself. The extent to which we love ourselves is the extent to which we are able to love others. I know when I think about the people in my life who are the most loving and affirming, I know them also to be quietly confident and affirming towards themselves.
Whether you are single or spoken for, I invite you to join me today in showing love to yourself. We are all created in the very image of the Divine, and that is something to celebrate today and everyday! Loving your neighbor as yourself is a crucial step in creating Beloved Community. Do your part and show yourself some intentional love today!

NOH8 Campaign Open Shoot Atlanta - 2011 MLK Weekend

NoH8 In The Beloved Community

It has now been 6 1/2 months since the assault in Piedmont Park. As court proceedings involving the 6 young people arrested continue to drag on with little or no progress measured, I have felt a growing frustration at the masquerade of court personnel and lawyers who do not seem to have any sense of urgency in bringing this case to a close so that the 6 young people, their families, myself and the other victims can put this behind us once and for all.

There have been moments in the process where I have felt my anger start to get the best of me, but in spite of my periodic short-sightedness, I have felt a greater purpose at work. During the times of anger and frustration, I have felt a strong urge to make something positive come from this. That is when I got the idea to bring the NoH8 crew to town for the first ever open shoot in Atlanta.

I had seen photographs of folks who had been a part of the NoH8 Campaign and thought it was a brilliant way for people of all walks of life to take a stand for love. I contacted the Campaign and they were moved by my story and especially excited about tying NoH8 into the legacy of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the 25th anniversary of the Holiday dedicated to his ideals in his hometown of Atlanta. Soon after, my friends Carlton Mackey and Nikki Noto enthusiastically agreed to come on board as the primary local organizers for an event that quickly started to take on a life of its own. Saint Mark United Methodist, the Emory University Center for Ethics, and the W Atlanta Midtown exceeded all of our expectations in providing the financial foundation to make it happen. It was as if everything we wanted on our wish-list for this event was freely given to us as we worked to bring it all together.

I was nervous as the day approached, but when the people started lining up early I knew that something amazing was about to happen. People started pouring in from far and wide, bringing with them positive energy and excitement about adding their voice to something much larger than themselves. Indeed we saw the very presence of the Beloved Community before us in a tangible way as people got the NoH8 tatoo applied to their faces and encouraged each other as the line advanced.

With each smile, each welcoming hug, and each snap of the camera I felt myself being transformed by the love I felt. It was a vivid testament of the way that love can transform trauma and pain into something beautiful and powerful. Many of the people who came to be a part of NoH8 Atlanta did not know my story, but their presence alone contributed to my journey toward healing and to the greater journey towards creating a culture where everyone is respected and accepted for who they are; that is a vision of total relatedness, transcends all demographics, embraces all, with justice for everyone, sees the alleviation of economic and social inequality, and where everyone has the physical and spiritual necessities of life.

Indeed there is NoH8 in the Beloved Community. I was proud to be a part of it over MLK weekend in Atlanta and I look forward to the next opportunity to make the Beloved Community appear again in our midst.