Greetings!

[sacradictus]

Hello all! I am happy to have become a member of Soulforce, an organization with such a BIG heart.

I had actually been following the soulforce journey when I first read in our local gay rag, Lavendar, about the Soulforce watch last year. I added it to my website and kept track of the daily journey. I was really inspired that there was an organization without a specific religious affiliation that linked 'gay with OK'!

Lately I have been appreciating the videos page portion of this website community, particularly Mel White's video and the 'Open letter to James Dobson'----what compasssion! I embrace you with holy hugs! I finally just visited the forums component today, so I figure it's about time I establish an identity here along with the rest of you.

My name is Ron, and since last summer I have been formally discerning a vocation becoming a monk with the trappist community. All my life I have had a desire to experience a deep intimate relationship with Christ, and if it be God's will, I will leave all and join the community this summer.

I embrace all expressions of love for God, and support each person's right to seek and meet God through their own experience of who that is for them.

I am currently a church musician, have been for about 30 years, was married for 7 years, long time ago, have 3 grown children, two daughters who identify as lesbian, and one son. I myself, though I realized I was gay in my early teen age years, did not grow up in the climate of acceptance (or lack of) that exists today. My own reaction to my then emerging sexual feelings was that of repression, so I went ahead and got married (my ex knew everything before we took the plunge), thinking it was something that one could 'grow out of', ie, the 'choice' as opposed to the 'orientation' model.

After many painful years of trying to live a scripted dutiful behavior I realized that it was not a healthy situation for my children to be raised by two adults who had no obvious emotional or spiritual connection, and took the risk of leaving a toxic relationship and accepting my self as a gay man.

But even beyond the experiences with a female, and two 5 year relationships with males, I feel and know that I have been created for something beyond the coupling model, hence the resolve to respond to the call to my vocation as a religious and join the monastery (some people can't imagine living a celibate life, but sex for me has never been the largest component of who am, contrary to those who think that LGBT persons are obsessed with sex and/or genital activity, I know that for myself, that is not true, and that is thanks to organizations such as Soulforce who confirm for us that we are not reduced to homophobic depictions and stereotypes of who some may say 'we' are).

I value all relationships between persons that are built on mutual respect and compassion, and realize that psychic, spiritual, emotional sexual and genital expression are both largely inate and conditioned, yet all lie along a broad continuum of expressions, that can embody all the best qualities of God, and are not to be judged or assigned moral status, as superior or inferior in relation to each other.

God meets me wherever I am, and is as likely to show up in the shower as in the shadows.

Well, I hope that gives you enough info to let you know a bit about my construction.

I look forward to enjoying getting to know you as I read your expressions in the forum writings.

Blessings!

[Zerbie]

welcome, one musician to another.

(psst - there's a lotta us musicians here!)

Thanks for your intro.

[scott snedeker]

welcome to soulforce! Glad to have you join! I look forward to hearing you experience!

scotty

[Daniel]

Welcome- another musician to another.

Like Scotty, I'm interested in hearing more about your journey.

I have a friend who is in a religious community. He joined a brotherhood here in NYC on the Lower East Side- an Eastern Orthodox community actually. So far, this has suited him very well. A marriage of two minds- you might say.

Speaking personally, I can imagine talking the step you are contemplating. At one time, I thought of it myself. Being someone who practices meditation, there are moments when one realizes that devotion to God (being something of a Buddhist, I smile at the paradoxical use of the word) is a very attractive- and even necessary- way to live one's life. I think living such a life can cultivate a keen and ever-present awareness that we are part of something larger than ourselves. (Ha! Another paradox: the Buddhist's talk about 'No-Self'. And the Tibetan's called the Catholic monk, Thomas Merton, the Jesus Lama. http://www.canadianchristianity.com/...tes/011120lama )

Again, welcome.

[tdogg]

Welcome to you! Thanks for sharing! I believe you will find the forums to be filled with welcoming, warm and compassionate people, looking forward to hearing more about your life's journey.

Tdogg

[Vanessa White]

"God meets me wherever I am"- I absolutely love that. I feel such love and peace through your introduction, and it moves and humbles me. Good luck in your endeavors as a monk, and look forward to seeing more of you here. Peace, Vanessa

[sacradictus]

Hi everyone, thanks for reading and responding. Over the past few days since joining I had gotten sucked into the vortex that is the work of music ministry, but have had a bit of down time to read your thoughtful posts here and in other forums. I don't anticipate adding much to what has already said, but please know that I am incredibly moved and uplifted by the depth and breadth of your compassion as evident in the manner that you articulate your faith convictions. I keep you all in my prayers. Peace and blessings in abundance to God's rainbow-spirited people!

Ron

[sacradictus]

hello again good people,

i wanted to reintroduce myself and become active in the soulforce community again.

i returned last september after the discernment period and postulancy for entering the community at gethsemani.

as it turned out, i further discerned that i was being called to active ministry so i have returned to my hometown of pittsburgh pa and taken a full-time church position at a local church here.

i just wanted to make you aware of my presence here as i start to participate in the forums.

i look forward to getting to know each of you better as i read.

wishing you all the best,

ron

[prairielesbian]

Originally Posted by Zerbie

welcome, one musician to another.

(psst - there's a lotta us musicians here!)

Thanks for your intro.

Heck, I'm a musician myself - well a piano player in my own home. (I'm kinda shy at the piano) Also, does guitar hero count?

[Gennee]

Welcome to Soulforce, Ron. I read your post with rapt interest and I am so happy that you are going into the ministry. I sense that you have come to terms with who you are and your calling. God needs more men like to you during these exciting times. I look forward to hearing good things.

Gennee