Category: tragedy

bigotry, christianity, culture, election, politics, racism, rant, relationships, religion, sexuality, theology, tragedy, trump, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Remember the PULSE Nightclub shooting?

amyj

As my entire family except maybe my younger brother voted Trump and now witnesses the aftermath, I am having a hard time pulling it together.  Last night, I dared to mention Clinton’s Methodist faith, and Mom’s only reply was “Where in the Bible does it say to kill babies?” Ohhh, my friends.  The irony.  The problem is that I could crush her.  I could bring up the myriad of verses that talk about gluttony and gossip and ask why the American church doesn’t try to litigate against that.  And, of course, information is a problem.  Knowledge is power, and as … Continue reading Remember the PULSE Nightclub shooting?

bigotry, christianity, culture, feminism, homosexuality, politics, psychology, rant, theology, tragedy, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Let’s just take a second.

amyj

Rage doesn’t begin to cover it.  Terror, fear.  But more than anything, despair.  I have a little PTSD coming in, memories of gaslighting from not one, but two past lovers.  Memories of a man who made me feel worthless; who critiqued my stomach during intimate moments and said “You’ll have to work out later” when I ate scrambled eggs late one night, and then resented me when I lost weight faster than him.  Who always, relentlessly, talked about himself, and then looked around in wonder when anyone expected a thing different. The despair, however, does not come from these memories. … Continue reading Let’s just take a second.

christianity, culture, homosexuality, politics, psychology, racism, rant, sexuality, tragedy, Uncategorized2 Comments

#Tonedeaf: on #blacklivesmatter & #LGBTI rights

amyj

On my fascinating little journey, which actually makes a lot of sense when you consider even my childhood’s obsession with human rights (aka before I escaped the bowels of Christianity, otherwise known as evangelicalism and/or the Southern Baptist culture), I have learned a lot about what NOT to say. Being cursed with the gift of empathy in nearly any context, I have learned to listen to people’s experiences with almost no judgment (unless you’re a prospective romantic partner, in which case you’re screwed.  But we are working on that). Given that an actual VIDEO OF A MAN BEING SHOT TO THE … Continue reading #Tonedeaf: on #blacklivesmatter & #LGBTI rights

culture, racism, religion, tragedyLeave a comment

A deep and unseated pain.

amyj

When I was sixteen, I was struck by Psalm 12:5 one day as I was reading: “Because of the devastation of the afflicted, because of the groaning of the needy, Now I will arise,” says the Lord; “I will set him in the safety for which he longs.” I felt a powerful connection to this verse and felt an almost visceral conviction that this was what I needed to do with my life.  To be honest, I actually thought I heard a voice say “in my spirit” (in my head), “I will use you to do this,” but however nutty … Continue reading A deep and unseated pain.