Dan too

       What a beautiful story of Daniel. Clearly a man of extreme faith. So much so that this story has been documented and perpetuated for millennia. When faced with what might have been seen as life's worst, Daniel had faith and was delivered.

        Then there is this story of another Daniel. Although not nearly as noteworthy as the Daniel we read about today in this passage, he too is a man of faith. There have been challenges but the most extraordinary one was that of coming to terms with his sexuality. The choices seemed wrong on all sides. This is why people contemplate suicide.  Our modern day Daniel could not see deliverance in any avenue and the darkness enveloped him as sure as being in the lion's mouth. What to do. What to do.

         There were those that urged prayer, prayer, prayer. That is the answer. Of course he prayed and prayed and prayed. But he also heard the voice of God as she spoke through others. One would say, seek counsel, and so he did. One would say have patience, and so he was. Psalm 23:4 was uppermost in his mind. He may not have known the answer of what to do but trust that God is with you. Yes. Know that God is with you. The Spirit too sent guides of various types, all working, speaking and have the patience only saints can have. 

         The answer emerged in and through all these people and Daniel emerged from 'the lions den' once more unscathed. The answer was acceptance of self. Really, more than that, acceptance and celebration and love of whom God created him to be. This was not a boast for him, this was a joy in his heart, soul and mind that God so loved the world - he was created a gay man, a man of faith, a man of honesty and love. That too was a key, honesty.  To be honest and true to oneself without guile or obfuscation. To accept who he is and to accept the love of God as he was created.  No trickery. No bifurcations to hide and live.

          So our second Dan lives to be a continued faithful and loving servant. The story of course does not end as it did not end for our original Daniel of yore. We are called to be people of faith but faith is not a vacuum. Faith calls on God, Scripture, prayer, other servants and creations of God and love, always love. 

        For prayer, listening ears, love and acceptance of ourselves we pray.

Daniel 6:16-28

 Then the king gave the command, and Daniel was brought and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, ‘May your God, whom you faithfully serve, deliver you!’ A stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, so that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no food was brought to him, and sleep fled from him.

 Then, at break of day, the king got up and hurried to the den of lions.When he came near the den where Daniel was, he cried out anxiously to Daniel, ‘O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God whom you faithfully serve been able to deliver you from the lions?’ Daniel then said to the king, ‘O king, live for ever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no wrong.’ Then the king was exceedingly glad and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.The king gave a command, and those who had accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives. Before they reached the bottom of the den the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.

 Then King Darius wrote to all peoples and nations of every language throughout the whole world: ‘May you have abundant prosperity! I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people should tremble and fear before the God of Daniel:
For he is the living God,
   enduring for ever.
His kingdom shall never be destroyed,
   and his dominion has no end. 
He delivers and rescues,
   he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth;
for he has saved Daniel
   from the power of the lions.’ 
So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.