"Why not?" I stupidly asked.
"It's tough being beaten up," he replies.
Immediately I understand.
A few years earlier I'd danced with a black girl at a dance at Mercer Middle School and the next day I was beaten up only to be momentarily saved by friend Gene Prevatt who was then beaten up too.
"Elliott," Gene says holding a bag of ice on his head as we recover in the school infirmary, "Don't ever do that again."
I did.
Something was born inside of me as a result of these experiences.
The Gospel came alive.
"Beloved if God so loves us we should love ..."
It's the funniest play of words in the Bible.
Most follow it logically through and finish the sentence with "God."
"Beloved if God so loves us we should love God" ... and that's certainly how most live their lives ... from ISIS to Southern Baptists and everything in between.
But that's not what it says.
"Beloved if God so loves us we should love one another" (1 John 4:11).
"About damn time," I say learning of the Supreme Court decision to allow marriage for all.
Then it's with horror I read the Christian responses.
Just as I'm getting angry, our beautiful daughter Terenca writes ...
"Being a former divorcée, I know how hard it is to find forever love. The kind of love where they love you for everything you are and everything you're not. Same sex marriage... or interracial marriage... or marriages with significant age differences don't make me feel threatened as a Christian. I'm called to love and serve. Until my last breath, I will. Congrats to my family and friends on your victory today. 💋 "
Immediately I calm down.
Damn I'm glad she's our daughter!
My friend from High School got "illegally" married a while ago.
Sarah and I are completely overjoyed his marriage is now as recognized and precious as ours.
Love is hard enough to come by and hold onto so, when you find it, do your best to hold onto it forever.
You may never get another chance.
