Comments on: Bridging the Gap http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/bridging-the-gap/ An online community sharing our lives and faith within a place of grace Thu, 22 Dec 2011 05:29:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Some Posts For Bridging the Gap | Based on a True Story http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/bridging-the-gap/comment-page-1/#comment-10909 Some Posts For Bridging the Gap | Based on a True Story Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:12:40 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=3574#comment-10909 [...] Moments Sharing the Gospel in the Gay Village Grace Unfolding What I Learned from Kim and Luane Confessing Assumptions About Sexual Identity :: Moving Away From [...] [...] Moments Sharing the Gospel in the Gay Village Grace Unfolding What I Learned from Kim and Luane Confessing Assumptions About Sexual Identity :: Moving Away From [...]

]]> By: anita http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/bridging-the-gap/comment-page-1/#comment-9377 anita Sun, 28 Jun 2009 20:42:32 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=3574#comment-9377 Melissa---> Now that I've stopped laughing over your lack of Home Depot exposure, I want to let you know how I admire you for taking the initiative to reach out to your friend yet again and while I hope for both your sakes that you can find a way to ground your friendship in what you have in common rather than where you differ, at least you can know that you did your part. We cross a bridge and extend our hand and then wait to see what greets us. Sometimes reconciliation is possible. Sometimes it's not and the best thing for both people is to let go of the relationship, wish each other well, and say goodbye, but that an effort was made, that God was given space and ground to have a chance to do the work of healing and reconciliation is the best any of us can do and what I personally believe, God asks of us to do. Anyway, thank you so much for following up by sharing this with me...and us. Melissa—> Now that I’ve stopped laughing over your lack of Home Depot exposure, I want to let you know how I admire you for taking the initiative to reach out to your friend yet again and while I hope for both your sakes that you can find a way to ground your friendship in what you have in common rather than where you differ, at least you can know that you did your part. We cross a bridge and extend our hand and then wait to see what greets us. Sometimes reconciliation is possible. Sometimes it’s not and the best thing for both people is to let go of the relationship, wish each other well, and say goodbye, but that an effort was made, that God was given space and ground to have a chance to do the work of healing and reconciliation is the best any of us can do and what I personally believe, God asks of us to do. Anyway, thank you so much for following up by sharing this with me…and us.

]]> By: Melissa http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/bridging-the-gap/comment-page-1/#comment-9358 Melissa Sun, 28 Jun 2009 11:11:44 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=3574#comment-9358 Thank you, Anita. I wrote a little bit ago about a friend who had gone from being on one side of the gap to jumping over to the other without looking back, and leaving me feeling a bit stranded on the other side. Our friendship had ended with harsh words, wounded hearts and closed doors. After many failed attempts to reconcile, I believed she had simply moved on... shut off her heart, to protect herself maybe... After reading this blog Wed, I tried one last time to extend my hand, risking my heart, knowing that I could be left hurting even more than before. And I am happy to say that she extended her hand in return. I don't know how to build a bridge (never been to home depot, contrary to public opinion), but I am certain if all the judgement and doubt is left behind and our focus is in trusting God, listening to each other, and listening to our hearts, we won't be left stranded on either side. Thank you, Anita. I wrote a little bit ago about a friend who had gone from being on one side of the gap to jumping over to the other without looking back, and leaving me feeling a bit stranded on the other side. Our friendship had ended with harsh words, wounded hearts and closed doors. After many failed attempts to reconcile, I believed she had simply moved on… shut off her heart, to protect herself maybe…

After reading this blog Wed, I tried one last time to extend my hand, risking my heart, knowing that I could be left hurting even more than before. And I am happy to say that she extended her hand in return. I don’t know how to build a bridge (never been to home depot, contrary to public opinion), but I am certain if all the judgement and doubt is left behind and our focus is in trusting God, listening to each other, and listening to our hearts, we won’t be left stranded on either side.

]]> By: anita http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/bridging-the-gap/comment-page-1/#comment-9329 anita Sat, 27 Jun 2009 05:33:14 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=3574#comment-9329 Pooh--> If anything here inspired you to embrace God's love for you then nothing is needed in the way of thanks....that's more than enough. And when it comes to finding a way to show your thanks to God for his love and grace, all God would ask is that you walk and live and thrive and delight in His love as you extend what you have received with others. So glad to receive your note this evening and hear of your joy. Hold it close to you because whether the feelings come or go, ebb or flow, God's love will remain constant and continual. Pooh–> If anything here inspired you to embrace God’s love for you then nothing is needed in the way of thanks….that’s more than enough. And when it comes to finding a way to show your thanks to God for his love and grace, all God would ask is that you walk and live and thrive and delight in His love as you extend what you have received with others. So glad to receive your note this evening and hear of your joy. Hold it close to you because whether the feelings come or go, ebb or flow, God’s love will remain constant and continual.

]]> By: Pooh http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/bridging-the-gap/comment-page-1/#comment-9327 Pooh Sat, 27 Jun 2009 03:35:55 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=3574#comment-9327 How can I thank you more? How can I thank and praise Him more and more, as I learn to embrace His Amazing Grace and His Love!!! And learn to accept ME... God bless you Anita and to all the wonderful bros and sisters who read and visit this site and Anita's blogs. How can I thank you more? How can I thank and praise Him more and more, as I learn to embrace His Amazing Grace and His Love!!! And learn to accept ME… God bless you Anita and to all the wonderful bros and sisters who read and visit this site and Anita’s blogs.

]]> By: anita http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/bridging-the-gap/comment-page-1/#comment-9311 anita Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:45:12 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=3574#comment-9311 Pooh-->As one who knows those losses personally as well, I'm sorry for all you've been through. None of it was necessary and none of it was right and even the best intentions and motives that led people to distance themselves from you are no excuse for the rejection you've felt from a faith community that was to welcome you as Christ has welcomed them. At the same time, please know there are many Christians and churches that would rush to embrace you, your life and your ministry. And until you find yourself among them remember that it's true, you are never alone in this. There are many GLBTQ Christians who know your journey because they've walked it themselves and have come to understand in the deepest places of their being that God loves them not in spite of who or what they are but because of who and what they are....a child of God, created by God's own hand, fashioned in God's own likeness. That includes you! Pooh–>As one who knows those losses personally as well, I’m sorry for all you’ve been through. None of it was necessary and none of it was right and even the best intentions and motives that led people to distance themselves from you are no excuse for the rejection you’ve felt from a faith community that was to welcome you as Christ has welcomed them. At the same time, please know there are many Christians and churches that would rush to embrace you, your life and your ministry. And until you find yourself among them remember that it’s true, you are never alone in this. There are many GLBTQ Christians who know your journey because they’ve walked it themselves and have come to understand in the deepest places of their being that God loves them not in spite of who or what they are but because of who and what they are….a child of God, created by God’s own hand, fashioned in God’s own likeness. That includes you!

]]> By: anita http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/bridging-the-gap/comment-page-1/#comment-9310 anita Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:40:42 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=3574#comment-9310 Mark-->I appreciated your blog post as well and thank you not only for the voice you added yesterday but your involvement in the DVD project. Jesus was all about vulnerability and risk. Because of his divinity I think we sometimes think he had a "hall pass" on all that when nothing could have ever been farther from the truth? We risk whether we step forward or not and so better to risk moving forward than refusing to budge from a spot that offers no chance for grace to do what grace does best. Mark–>I appreciated your blog post as well and thank you not only for the voice you added yesterday but your involvement in the DVD project. Jesus was all about vulnerability and risk. Because of his divinity I think we sometimes think he had a “hall pass” on all that when nothing could have ever been farther from the truth? We risk whether we step forward or not and so better to risk moving forward than refusing to budge from a spot that offers no chance for grace to do what grace does best.

]]> By: anita http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/bridging-the-gap/comment-page-1/#comment-9309 anita Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:36:58 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=3574#comment-9309 Sarah--> And that's where it starts...in our humanity. We need to see each other as human, rather than as positions or sides, or gay or straight. Sarah–> And that’s where it starts…in our humanity. We need to see each other as human, rather than as positions or sides, or gay or straight.

]]> By: anita http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/bridging-the-gap/comment-page-1/#comment-9308 anita Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:36:14 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=3574#comment-9308 Diane--> Thank you so much. Won't it be a grand day indeed when rather than bridging the gap, we can break down the fence once and for all? In God I'm hoping and trusting. Diane–> Thank you so much. Won’t it be a grand day indeed when rather than bridging the gap, we can break down the fence once and for all? In God I’m hoping and trusting.

]]> By: anita http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/bridging-the-gap/comment-page-1/#comment-9307 anita Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:35:07 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=3574#comment-9307 Liz--> I'm so glad you stopped by and hope you feel free to comment in the future should you read something that strikes a cord in you. I just read your story over at QueerMergent and was so moved by your honesty and love for your son and your commitment to search for an understanding of the scriptures that spoken truly to you. I have most definitely added your blog to my regular reads as well. Liz–> I’m so glad you stopped by and hope you feel free to comment in the future should you read something that strikes a cord in you. I just read your story over at QueerMergent and was so moved by your honesty and love for your son and your commitment to search for an understanding of the scriptures that spoken truly to you. I have most definitely added your blog to my regular reads as well.

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