“Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, doesn’t have a swelled head, doesn’t force itself on others, isn’t always me first, doesn’t fly off the handle, doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, doesn’t revel when others grovel, takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, puts up with anything, trusts God always, always looks for the best, never looks back, but keeps going to the end” (I Corinthians 13:4-7).

A very familiar passage from the Bible. I’ll have to be honest…it’s not one of my favorite verses for various reasons. It would fall into the category of overused or token verses. What I mean is that people are so quick to quote it, put it on a refrigerator magnet, embroider it on a bridal pillow, work it into a cheezy poster with a nature scene, or it’s a default verse in a teaching on the subject. I don’t know, maybe it’s because love was a difficult concept to understand while I was growing up. The three words “I love you” were not common place. It gets back to a verse and even a concept that is much easier to discuss or muse over than to practice with authenticity. It could even be one of the most difficult words to define. Here’s my attempt with the help of the internet:

love – to have a profoundly tender, passionate affection for; concern for the well-being of others; a feeling of warm personal attachment.

Love is at the center of my faith as I follow Christ. A significant part of my journey is growing in my knowledge of Christ’s love for me and for all people. Over the past 3 years, I have had a unique opportunity to put it to the test. I hope I’ve passed the test. I can’t give an accurate assessment…I guess those I’ve gotten to know can answer that query better than I can.

I knew there would be challenges. The first time we hosted at the Rainbow Coffeeshop, one of the first students we served at the bar grew quite antagonistic when he found out we are Christians and promptly stormed out of the Etc. Cafe weaving a tapestry of obsenities. Weekly, I hear derogatory remarks about Christianity or God Himself. At first I was taken aback. Not anymore. I’ve grown to understand where the angst originates. I’ve dealt with it. It’s fine. Not difficult. There is a greater cause than my feelings. And I think God gets past it too.

The surprising thing to me is the reaction I’ve gotten from many fellow believers. No, I’m not talking about the fire and brimstone, sign waving, condemning homophobes you on would find Halsted during the Pride parade or in the French Quarter all year long. I’m talking about people with whom I worship or in a similar way at other fellowships. The last 3 years has never been about a project trying to prove a point. It hasn’t been about “infiltrating” the other camp and pull a Trojan Horse sneak attack. It hasn’t been out of pity.

It’s always been about people. No labels, no letters or abbreviations. Just people. It’s been about connecting with those whom I used to fear, push away, ignore, and even ridicule. It has to do with people who felt they could never darken the doors of my church building, my home, or my life. Those who too often have been wrongly convinced that God has given up on them and is counting down the days until He can send them to their eternal punishment. It’s been about helping people to understand that we are all on equal footing when it comes to the Cross of Christ. We are all equally deserving of punishment. And we all equally have access to God. He loves us ALL. Because of the most perfect, purest incarnation of love…Jesus.

It’s been quite a journey. Challenging, exciting, disappointing, gut-wrenching, emotional, risky…but been worth it. I’ve received challenges regarding my own sexuality, come under great scrutiny, accused of compromising my convictions, lied about, slandered, lost sleep, agonized, experienced loss…and again I say it’s been worth it. In fact, if I could go back to August 2006…I’d do it all over again…in a heartbeat. The only thing I’d change is that I’d work even harder.

To my critics, I’d say…walk a mile with me. I dare you. When it comes to a question of my love for people, my response would be…which is a stronger test of love: Being with people with whom you agree, are of like mind, have a common cause, can relate to? Or is the greater challenge to be with people with whom you may disagree on certain issues, with whom there is the great potential for hostility and volatility…and cross that bridge anyway? I don’t know. I’m just sayin.

Perhaps I am getting defensive. Again. I don’t know. I’m not trying to win an argument, not trying to be right, not trying to pat myself on the back for my attempts at reconciliation. All I’m trying to do is to love people…yes, tainted with imperfection, pride and selfishness. Which is why all I’m doing is pointing them back to Christ in whom they can find true love that none of possess.

That aside, let me give a shout out to those who we’ve had the privilege of connecting with: Sara, Curt, Khristian, William, Jon, Bryce, Jimmy, another Jon, Chris, Kameron, Brandon, Jeff, another Chris, Ryan, Lyndon, Leslie, Casey, Jeanette, Narali, another Brandon, Mike, Sam, Nathan, Sean, Joel, Alex, another William, another Mike, another Mike, Josh, Kevin, Brant, Bernie, Jonathan, Mo, Hugo, Louis, Lori, Carrie, Melissa, Ann, Sienna, Brian, Sue, Letoya, Kim, Brad, Kyle, Tom, Matt, Seth, Patrick…and so many more…I love you!