i was sitting at the rickety fold-up table in the stockroom at the sweatshop where i work, innocently reading my O Magazine, when one of the old crochety women who works there asks me what i am reading. I flip the magazine over and she sees Oprah on the cover with Ellen. She begins calling Oprah an immoral woman because she won't marry Steadman. I reply: "She doesn't believe in marriage." "Well, that's why she's immoral", she retorts. I explained that committment is a heart issue, marriage is a legal one. I then made some reference to some of us immortals are prohibited from being married by law so what's the point. She became so angry she started shaking and started nervously making calls on her cell phone. Episode #1.
I logged onto Facebook where I had made a fairly innocent remark about not supporting war in any capacity. Some right wing fanatic who has made guest appearances on my page before starting spouting apocolyptic jargon and then was going on about how society is damned because of soy milk and PETA. I try to love and receive all as Isis does...but I had a human moment. I said "Enough of this foolishness" and I deleted him from my page. He then sent me a private message, which I deleted without reading...and then he emailed one of my brothers and told him that I was a sensor and couldn't handle debate. Whatever. I then blocked him. Then I received this from one of HIS friends this morning (saying that he was asked to send it to me):
Gay Sinner Repent! you immerse yourself in your sinful lifestyle, pray to gods and goddesses that dont exist; ignore the one that sits on the throne because you wish to indulge your sin. The kingdom will never be yours until you repent. Unhappiness will always find you, you will never be happy in that lifestyle and mindset. You have had failed relationship after failed relationship. You will suffer again and again and again until you repent.
You are lost and will be until you choose the path of righteousness.
Wow. I read it to my brother this morning and said how I really truly believe that this brand of Christians are the real thing we should be fearful of in 2010. This is the kind of message I would expect to see attached to a body bomb of some sort. Seriously disturbing how these people believe that they are the voice of God to the world. I hate to break it to these folks, but we are not in the Old Testament anymore. I know we want to see the angry God rise from the ashes sin fury and smite the world and turn people into pillars of salt...but it's not going to happen. It's not going to happen anymore than you may return in your next life as a character from Lord of the Rings.
These are the reasons I have converted to Buddhism. Do I still have a relationship with Jesus? Absolutely. I love the Jesus that I know...but I do not know The Terrible One: this vengeful Father God that is upheld by the Pat Robertson's of the world.
I do seek to be one who is inclusive and I still falter and fall short in that area. It's difficult to include those who do not wish to include you...but somehow I have to find that place inside.
I was sitting here this morning working on business for our album and upcoming show and missed words and needed to sit down and pour this out. I had to find the center. The cat sat above me and ran her paws through my hair and began to lick it. I felt her giving me unconditional love in the way that she knows how to give it.
I thought about the wonderful community of people that has pulled together this year and became grateful for the love that I do have...not the love that I do NOT have.
I dream about a world that blends all of the elements together. Interfaith, multi-cultural, multi-racial, genre-less and full of love....Apparently the idea of peace has become a laughable and ridiculous prospect to people, but I still wish for it....there's still a call to us all to love all humanity as my dear friend teri desario once wrote...i'll never give up on it....

