Welcome Sarab… Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for coming along with your story just now. I haven’t been checking the forum regularly for a while and am so encouraged to find your story here as I come back to it tonight – if you read my story… Confused 49 year old… you will find I start in a very similar space to where you have. I have so appreciated reading all the comments in this thread and being reminded that my probable same sex attraction can some how fit in with my strong deep commitment to faith and ‘the church’ – and even my call to minister in bible teaching.

I’m not sure I have come as far as you seem to have come in the time since you started interacting here – well, I made some of the progress and have regressed again.. if you want to call it that. I’m would agree with the others that it is helpful to take things slowly and give yourself time to settle with the understandings you are learning about yourself and your sexuality, and also about who could support you in this journey of self discovery.

I was talking to someone this week – who said that everyone deserves a soul mate – then someone else (in a totally different context) said today much the same thing as long as there is no sexual expression between people of the same sex. I expressed in another conversation today how angry I am that the church makes sexual expression ‘the big sin’ and divisive factor, above pride, arrogance, judgemental attitudes and hate – and I know which ones Jesus was more angry about.

I don’t have answers yet – and have had to come to realise that I’m not ready to ‘come out’ to anyone, really – least of all myself – and that with my mental illness – my priority is really to stay alive and safe – and I guess I don’t have any hope that there will ever be that special someone for me… and I guess that is sad… and just now, makes me want to cry.

I will follow your journey with interest and maybe can find some courage and answers as you wrestle with your questions….. Bon Courage….

ammi

Hi sarab

Thanks for your kind words. 🙂

In answer to your question about how to quote someone else here, the instructions are as follows. (And I apologise if it’s too basic since I don’t know your level of computer knowledge).

1. Left click and hold this down while dragging your mouse over the section you want to quote. This area of text will then be highlighted in blue.

2. Right click over the area that’s highlighted and a box will appear with options that include copy, paste etc.

3. Move your cursor down to ‘copy’. Left click on this.

4. Select ‘reply’ in response to someone’s post that you wish to quote.

5. Place your cursor in the reply box. Right click and a box will appear with the option to ‘paste’. Select ‘paste’ and your copied text will appear.

6. Prior to the text, I type: “x wrote”: so it’s clear who authored the quote.

7. After “x wrote:” before the start of the quote, put the word ‘quote’ in square brackets. And at the end of the quote, put ‘/quote’ in square brackets to finish. This will put the quote in pale grey font, thus differentiating it from the rest of your own writing which is in black.

Give this a go and if any problems, let me know and I’ll step you through it.

Blessings,

Ann Maree

Thanks Mother Hen. Your way sounds much easier actually. 🙂

Blessings,

Ann Maree

Interesting little side issue to deal with today. A friend has invited me to go to a series at her church “A Christian response to homosexuality” – talk about weird timing (God’s timing?) – and I suspect that I won’t like much of what is said…

I thought I would go – strangeley I want to hear it.

There will be a question answer time at the end…. any suggestions as to what to ask?

Any suggestions for succinct comments –

would appreciate your feedback.

Sarab

Hi Ann Maree

My friend has asked me as we have discussed the issue of the Bible and gay relationships before. We have discussed the various teaching series at her church over some time and she mentioned months ago that this particular series was coming up. I had said I would be interested – I have discussed with her my struggle to agree with “the church stance” on “homosexuality” – she knows my sister is gay. It is just incredible timing that the series should be right now. It is an Anglican church – in a conservative diocese – (need I say more?) well known speaker over a number of years in Christian circles – so I can only imagine it will be a talk that says that “homosexuality is wrong”. …Why do I still want to go?

Well I guess I always like to think and puzzle things out. If I am also to be armed with any sort of position or counter argument, I need to know what the nay sayers (dare I say the “opposition” !) are saying. I am like this with all issues – I like to hear and consider both sides. I guess I am just a bit nervous because everything is a bit new and raw in my mind – so I can’t foresee my emotional reaction. I am however keen to have some key questions ready to ask – should I be brave enough. I have had no problems in the past asking controversial questions about issues such as gay relationships etc in Christian circles – as I have always in my mind been advocating for my sister and gay friends. It’s just a bit closer to home now – & I feel a bit more vulnerable. Does that make sense?

Sarab 🙂