Seven Straight Nights...Night 1
On this Feast of the Holy Cross I am carrying an unexpected dimension of grief. One of my best friends, Zoey, who would have been praying with me, died suddenly last Thursday at the age of 39.
Over the years we'd taken on Yes tours, Ren Faires and TLotR conventions; we saw the LotR movies so many times we developed our own MST3K-style subtexts for them. Once we entered a local parade as Gandalf (Zoey, 5'10") and Frodo (your correspondent, 5'1")....
It's happened again. Frodo has lost Gandalf.
Zoey, my loving, compassionate, adventurous friend, you're well and happy where you are now. Knowing that doesn't alter the fact that I miss you...terribly. Listen--just so you know, dying doesn't let you off the hook--I still expect you to pray with me!
+++God--you who know and cherish ALL of us to our depths--may your GLBT children live in the love, freedom, dignity and joy which is rightfully theirs. May we all know our true value as your children.+++