Happy Gay New Year

Psalm 103          Happy Gay New Year

          This year, like every year, is the year of the Lord our God.  Praise him and pray to him unceasingly every day, all our life. His mercy and love are boundless to us. His wish is that we flourish like the flowers and radiate the same beauty that is within us, the beauty he created.

          In looking forward for myself and for everyone, I reflect also on the past year. 

          In 2010 we looked in appreciation and thanks that marriage equality was recognized in the great state of New York. This past year (2011), I was able, willing and eager to participate in this sacred institution with my beloved and we were married. The presence of our families, past and present, our children and most importantly, the blessings of our God, made our committement to each other formal, sacred and sealed in love and faith.

          This year as we move forward in love, we start with ideas, perhaps resolutions and we start from wherever we are at. I start a little bit bigger than I was a year ago. I also start with a few more aches and pains than I had previously. These are physical attributes. On a spiritual note I am hard at work trying to read, write, take time out to think and thank.  What truly matters, wherever we start is recognizing the beauty inside that makes us who we are.  Wherever we go, fat or skinny, New York to Nova Scotia, we will be showing that inner self, that beautiful inner self to the world. Start off knowing you are beautiful and loved.  Read the scripture and know you are unique and loved, made by God!

             Can we let mis-steps, side steps and running around (sometimes in circles) distract us from our goals? Will we let those msi-steps affect the knowledge that we start off as a beautiful creation to begin with? Is our self worth tied up, and tangled into worldly things, physical things that really obscure the truth? What is the truth? Can you handle the truth?

             Here it is. You are a beautiful creation, unique and loved. You have been given another year to  love and let your light shine among men. Go forth little flower, shine.

Of David.
¹ Bless the Lord, O my soul,
   and all that is within me,
   bless his holy name.
² Bless the Lord, O my soul,
   and do not forget all his benefits—
³ who forgives all your iniquity,
   who heals all your diseases,
⁴ who redeems your life from the Pit,
   who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
⁵ who satisfies you with good as long as you live^*
   so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. 

⁶ The Lord works vindication
   and justice for all who are oppressed.
⁷ He made known his ways to Moses,
   his acts to the people of Israel.
⁸ The Lord is merciful and gracious,
   slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
⁹ He will not always accuse,
   nor will he keep his anger for ever.
¹⁰ He does not deal with us according to our sins,
   nor repay us according to our iniquities.
¹¹ For as the heavens are high above the earth,
   so great is his steadfast love towards those who fear him;
¹² as far as the east is from the west,
   so far he removes our transgressions from us.
¹³ As a father has compassion for his children,
   so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.
¹⁴ For he knows how we were made;
   he remembers that we are dust. 

¹⁵ As for mortals, their days are like grass;
   they flourish like a flower of the field;
¹⁶ for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
   and its place knows it no more.
¹⁷ But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
   on those who fear him,
   and his righteousness to children’s children,
¹⁸ to those who keep his covenant
   and remember to do his commandments. 

¹⁹ The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
   and his kingdom rules over all.
²⁰ Bless the Lord, O you his angels,
   you mighty ones who do his bidding,
   obedient to his spoken word.
²¹ Bless the Lord, all his hosts,
   his ministers that do his will.
²² Bless the Lord, all his works,
   in all places of his dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul.