Footsteps
Deep in his slumber, one night a man had a very real, yet surreal dream. He dreamt that he was walking along the beach with God. As he looked up at the sky, he saw all the scenes of his life flash by along with two sets of footprints: one set for himself, and another for God.
After all the scenes had flashed before him, he looked back at those footprints and noticed something quite disturbing: At the most difficult times in his life, he saw only one set of footprints.
This deeply troubled the man, so he turned and said to God: “You said that if I followed you, then you would always walk with me through thick and thin. In looking back, I see that during the most painful times there is only one set of footprints. Why did you leave me when I needed you the most?”
“I love you and would never leave. It was during those times when you suffered the most that I carried you.”
7 comments:
If you're a gay kid in Donegal, though, you're on your own. No one's going to carry you. Might as well admit the truth.
God's a comforting story if you fit the mold. Otherwise, all bets are off.
To Anonymous,
So what if you're a gay kid in Donegal. Who said you had to fit the mold anyway. Molds are for breaking. No-one should have to live with anyone else's rules. Just be who you are.
Susanna
Well, every organized religion in the world says you have to fit their mold, I mean don't they? And what do they all have in common?
1. Daddy calls the shots.
2. Women and children are a husband's property.
3. Jesus/Allah/Krishna must stay in bed with you, as you copulate, in any form. It's a threeway you can't ever quit.
And, by the way, I take exception to your disregard for gay kids in Donegal. They encounter every kind of reaction but "So What?" is usually at the end of a long list. Indifference is the last they have to fear. And religion is most often used to justify violence, intimidation, bullying and harassment against them. Let's just face facts.
Those "Footsteps," for far too many Irish gay kids, end at the cemetery. And anyone who actually lives there knows that.
Hi Anonymous,
Organized religion does ask you to "fit their mold" yes and for those who are happy to do that, that is, in my opinion, great for them. It's like being a member of a club if you want to join you follow their rules or at least aspire to. I see no problem in that there's room for everyone to go with whatever they are comfortable with.
In many cases yes "daddy calls the shots" etc., as you've described. There are societal and cultural models which people who live in mainstream society are expected to adhere to & I know it's not easy to buck the trend, stand up for yourself and go your own way. Who says you can't be true to yourself and stand up and say this is who I am like it or lump it. If people don't like it that's their problem not yours.
I don't disregard gay kids in Donegal and I do appreciate and understand the discrimination you've received. I have witnessed gay people being heavily discriminated against in the ways you describe and I would certainly not deny that it goes on.
As in the "Footsteps" poem though you never really are alone, it just seems that way sometimes. You might notice that when you seem at your lowest ebb something comes through for you just when you least expect it.
So does this gay kid in Donegal have a name?
Susanna
Being gay in Donegal or I would imagine anywhere in rural Ireland can be a very isolating experience and has led in many cases to mental health problems and suicide. Being gay in itself is not the problem but it is the isolation caused by the homophobic ignorance that is entrenched in the community. There are places to go for support and to connect with others.
Try the Breakout text service located in Donegal. Phone number: 085-7411607. Text any day weekly.
or BeLonG To Youth Project, supporting and resourcing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young
people aged 14 - 23 T:01-8734184; E: belongto@eircom.net;
or www.bebo.com/Profile.jsp?MemberId=3652700598
As for a relationship with God, the Divine, the Universe or whatever you want to call a higher power, as far as I am concerned that is nothing to do with organised religions which have their own agendas and as far as I am concerned these do do not include encouraging freedom, being love and transcending limits.
I wish you all the best on your journey through life and believe me things always do change personally and in society.
Uma, I think your advice for Anonymous is great.
I would also like to add something else to reflect on. We can be blinded by who we think we are and hide behind that.
In my experience being willing to stand up and show yourself i.e. mustering up all the courage within to say "this is who I am" is very empowering and can lead to all sorts of new and wonderful discoveries.
Of course it is important to stand up and be yourself but it is also wise to do it in a place where it is safe to do so
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