It’s Pride month.
Now, I don’t jump on the bandwagon of acceptance and mark everything I do up in rainbow flags and jump up and down. Nor do I publicly shame anyone who is anywhere on the alphabet that makes up the symbolic nature of Pride like some do. Neither one of those stances work for me. I simply continue to try to be my magical self every day of the year, trying to be love, joy, peace, and hope as much as I can. And while I struggle from time to time, I try damn hard to accept everyone, and I mean everyone.
But then, I remember that I am commanded to do things in love, including love my neighbor, my enemy and the stranger.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everyone could try to do that? After all, we all crave some sort of connection. We all crave a sense of community, wherever that might be. And we all at one point or another feel like a square peg trying to fit into the round hole of a socially constructed box.
We all need the love of a neighbor, an enemy, a stranger.
But the world proves time and time again what love is up against. Boxes are built to keep people in, constructed to try to make everyone fit where society says they must stay. Walls are built to keep people out, especially those deemed less worthy. Condemnation and hatred and rhetoric-filled vitriol are rampant wherever one turns, closing down hearts and minds. And when someone tries to bridge gaps, to extend peace, to show love, they are swiped down and ridiculed. It’s a wonder we even try anymore.
It takes a great deal of love to wipe away hate.
But it also only takes a simple wanting to do better, to be better, to love better. Then, love becomes the protest.
“Let love make saints out of hypocrites / Let grace fall from broken lips / Turn dirty rags into white flags / Let peace crawl out of the mystery / Show how blinding the light can be / Don’t be afraid of what you see / Love is the protest.”
~ Jars of Clay “Love is the Protest”
Love is learning to see the other person’s point of view, even if it’s not something you are used to. Love is reaching out to ask a hard question and being accepted in return, even if one doesn’t understand all the answers. Love is getting to know the person behind the label, instead of listening to what society wants us to hear about any label. Love is reaching out, even just for a moment, with an open heart, an open mind, and maybe even open arms.
The world needs less vitriol and more acceptance of all people from all walks of life. It needs more people willing to love the neighbor, the stranger, the enemy, and the friend. It needs more people willing to learn to approach things without minds made up and closed off hearts. But it also needs people willing to keep on loving until those with closed off hearts can finally be opened up again.
Make love your protest. Make love your mystery. Make love your magic. Learn to come to the table with open hearts, open minds, and maybe even some open arms.
I will try to do the same.
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K. S. Wood Writes 