Spirituality of show'ers and grow'ers

Luke 4:16-22

            As this is a blog geared towards everyone but especially to the gay community, let me start with something not heard in general discussions except perhaps in the gay community. It might still be a bit crude but here goes. Innocent as I was, one of the many things that I heard early on, that is, after I came out, was the concept of show'ers and grow'ers. For those not so educated in the fine arts of the gay kingdom, there are those that are well endowed (it's obvious), and others that do not appear to be as well endowed but certainly more than rise to the occasion.

         Sometimes people get fixated on bigger and supposedly better. In any event size seems to matter whether we are speaking gay sex or cars, or houses or boats, or just about anything. Perhaps it is a more of an American paradigm but sadly it's true.

          Blessed is the person who knows who they are and accepts it as simply part of who they are. In this way we can realize that no matter who we are, how well we are endowed, physically or monetarily, we all have a gift to offer and role to play in God's world. There is a perfect person for everyone. The road to happiness is paved with self knowledge. Acceptance of who you are in all your attributes is good and desirable.  Love yourself.

      In this passage Jesus is fully aware of who he is. Others may be surprised (Isn't he Joseph's son?) but Jesus is who he is. He is a man and he is God. He has every right to demand a sacrifice to himself and yet it is he who will sacrifice himself for us. The fact that he recognizes himself in scripture could make him the biggest show'er (of sorts) of them all. He would have every right to feel that way. He is God. Yet that is not what he does, he does not demand that every head bow or that the congregants bend their knees to him. He accepts who he is and moves forward in love. He is confident in knowing who he is and focuses on his mission, true love and salvation for all of us.

       If we could only acknowledge  that we are show'ers or grow'ers in any aspect of our life and not demand anything for it, or use the knowledge to demand respect or certain behaviours. What we need to do is accept who we are, respect who we are and move forward with our mission. That mission is to accept who we are and love our self and everyone.

        

When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
   because he has anointed me
     to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
   and recovery of sight to the blind,
     to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’
And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, ‘Is not this Joseph’s son?’