Lent 2026 Guide-DIGITAL - Flipbook - Page 17
journey of Mary and Bobby Griffith, a mother and son who struggle to
reconcile the conflict between their faith and his sexuality. I came across
this book the summer before my senior year of college, and Bobby and
Mary’s story saved me. Saved me from three years of bad theology, from
all the voices in my head telling me I wasn’t praying or doing enough, and
ultimately from the same fate that befell Bobby.
God saved me again as I wandered into ThreeHouse: A Wesley Foundation
on a fall afternoon. Seeing a rainbow flag hanging proudly next to an
intimidating, church-like building intrigued me, so I thought I would
investigate. Once I got inside, I discovered an open and affirming campus
ministry who was ready to love me, even if I wasn’t quite ready to love
myself. Pastor Dave, Rev. Maureen and other queer college Christians
helped me experience God’s love and feel comfortable in church again – as
we shared our stories, scars, and lives while drinking stale church coffee and
sitting on dusty, thrifted couches. I spent way too much of my life cowering
under layers of guilt and shame about being queer, looking for the right
Bible study, church, or pastor that could help make me straight, and feeling
like I was outside of the love of Christ. Some Sundays, I feel myself falling
back into the same “coat check” routine, but hearing and saying, “No
matter who you are or where you are…” at Plymouth always snaps me out of
it and reminds me that I don’t need to do that anymore. God loves me as I
am…stories, scars and all.
Action in Contemplation
Prayer: O Lord, just as you have used others’ scars and stories to save me, I
pray that you may use my story and scars to save others. Free me from guilt
and shame, open my heart and mind to create spaces for individuals to feel
welcome no matter who they are, or where they are on life’s journey. Going
forward this week, help me reflect on what the statement “No matter who
you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are always welcome here”
means to me.
– John Zauche, Rainbow Action Network
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