Journal Entry 5
January 28, 2008
By the end of SLT, I was tired; my head was aching. My sleepiness is a result of stress: my body’s shut-down response. The energy required to fully attend and participate in a conference dealing with sexuality is immense. The topic for this long overdue conference was both needed and demanding and very high-intensity. Yet, from the bottom of my heart, I am grateful for the space to learn about and discuss sexuality.
I am most appreciative to Brenda Martin Hurst and David Boshart for offering a “new” and broadened definition of sexuality and emphasizing its essential goodness. Sexuality is about so much more than the sex act. It is our very personhood, our gender, our senses, and our physical bodies. And ALL of it was (is) pronounced “good” in a resounding voice. What an opportunity the church has for telling humans our true worth! All humanity can be affirmed in our very being. As a single woman, I especially must be reminded of that over and over.
Yet the good thing we are was broken long ago. After millennia humanity has not moved forward in acceptance and affirmation of the goodness of God’s created sexuality. The depth of the brokenness is profound. Who has not felt it? Maybe we can name this brokenness and have a time of mourning – public mourning – for the losses. Though the thought of doing that scares me, I still believe in the strength of truth-telling.
The rich conversations that occurred around me these past few days MUST be happening in the whole church. Instead of (important, but narrowly focused) talk of homosexuality or saying no to sex until marriage, let’s have the bigger-picture conversation about all of sexuality. Let’s ask what are we saying yes to. I also heard and affirm the need to have rituals in our congregations, such as a “welcome to adulthood” party for teens; or a house shower for single people moving into their own place. (Maybe this is why so many young adults live with their parents: they aren’t supported in the creation of their own homes like married people are.)
I want to affirm each one attending this conference who made himself or herself vulnerable throughout the sessions and in conversation, because of them healing goes on.
