Epiphany of Love, And Why I Cannot Shun

To explain the title of this post, I have to go back to 2001, Christmas Eve. My family was in church, waiting for Mass to begin, everyone was feeling happy, expectant, faithful. Something happened to me then, the world melted away and I was. . . elsewhere. I was aware of the church and the congregation, but I was on another plane. I was in a place of intense light, brighter than anything I've ever experienced, yet it didn't hurt and I felt no need to squint or shield my eyes. More significant than the light though, far more, was the love. I was in the presence of countless legions of souls, filled to the brim with love. I knew I was seeing heaven. I also knew the reason I couldn't stay was that I wasn't ready, that my poor, feeble, human heart couldn't hold that much love without bursting (it did, in fact, hurt). When the time right, the soul is purified and only then can it handle the intense love of heaven.

There was God, there were infinite souls, and there was love ~ love beyond anything we are capable of imagining. I saw, I understood, and then I was back. It was a simple half-second epiphany.

So, that's heaven. Love. Just love. NO H8. No judgement. No segregation. No gay. No straight. No gender. Love. Lots of souls, but not gender or orientation ~ I assume there is no longer any need for any of that.

And that brings us to today. Jesus never preached hate. He told us the greatest commandment is love. He told us to love one another. He didn't say hate. He did, quite specifically, tell us not to judge. It seems fitting to make love the topic at hand for His birthday.

There are those (blessedly, my kith & kin are supportive) who would shun transfolk. I understand cutting off your drug-addicted daughter who refuses to go to treatment, by not enabling her, you would actually help her. I understand refusing to allow your pedophiliac parent access to your life and even trying to get his ass thrown in jail  (in fact, I'd strongly encourage it). I understand eschewing the looney tune aunt who wants you to attend her goldfish's Bar Mitzvah ~ although I really think you should keep an eye on her and make sure she stays safe. I cannot however, under any circumstances, condone shunning someone for being transgender. There are people who claim that it is sinful to be transgender, that transfolk are evil and sinful. I'd like to suggest they read Matthew 7:1 and John 13:34. These are my two favorite Bible verses ~ reading them makes me a better Christian. Jesus consorted with hookers & tax collectors; I cannot believe He approves of banning someone for being harmlessly happy.

The transfolk I know are very nice people. They do not want you to be transgender (unless you really are). They do not want you to be a cheerleader for them (unless you really are). They want you to love them, support them, ignore them, dislike them, etc. based on their personalities ~ you know, the way you judge cispeople. They want their families to love them and accept them the same as when everyone thought they were cisgender.

I don't know what Jesus would do. I believe, however, that He loves transfolk, cisfolk, tall folk, short folk and so on, just the same. I believe He died for all of us. I've wondered for years why I got that gift, that glimpse into heaven. Now, I think I am beginning to understand; I think it was to me the courage to share that message of love, tolerance, and acceptance.

If you haven't made sure that your transchild, transparent (uh. . . there has to be a better word) transfriend knows you still love them, accept them, and are genuinely trying to understand them: Go now. Tell them. Show them. Merry Christmas and God Bless Us Everyone!