As a progressive, I believe there are many names for God and many ways to God; this article reflects one of those ways. Take from here what works for you. Celebrate life with joy and peace!
Here in San Diego, we are blessed to have great diversity in our community. This diversity is also shown by the public servants elected to office. The statement, “We are everywhere!” is so true.
In addition, we have people in office who are true allies of the LGBT community. I’m so grateful for that!
Do we have continued work to do to bring about greater equality and remove phobias against our community? Yes. Study candidates and propositions and then, vote! You can make a difference. Yes, your vote matters!
I was honored and humbled to be asked to give the invocation for the San Diego celebration of the inauguration of the 69th speaker of the California State Assembly, the Honorable Toni Atkins at the Balboa Park Club.
Please pray, or meditate or reflect in your own way:
God of our many understandings,
On this exciting day, we thank you for your abundant blessings. Thank you for the reason we are here this morning – to celebrate this historic occasion of the newly-elected speaker of the Assembly, Toni G. Atkins!
We give you thanks for Toni, and the many gifts she brings, and pray you would give her wisdom and discernment in every facet of her leadership,
Give her patience and perseverance as she leads in the midst of sometimes conflicting thoughts and opinions,
Give her safety and protection as she boldly speaks and as she travels many miles,
Give her strength to find family time and, yes, privacy in the midst of so many demands and a schedule that takes on a life of its own,
Give her peace and joy that come from a quiet heart, rooted and grounded in knowing where she came from and where she is going,
May all who see and hear our speaker be inspired and moved to be better citizens.
Bless, we pray, this special day – and bless your child, Toni Atkins, in all of the varied roles she represents to so many people in this room and beyond these walls – spouse, friend, aunt, sister, colleague, role model and leader.
Amen
I love being part of our great San Diego LGBT community in all of its diversity! Let’s continue to dialogue peacefully, with honor and respect. Let’s build bridges rather than walls.
I like this quote by John Wesley: “Do all the good you can by all the means you can in all the ways you can in all the places you can at all the times you can to all the people you can as long as ever you can.”
And don’t forget how fabulous you are! God loves you; you are created as a gift to the world. Never forget how special and loved you are.
Rev. Dan Koeshall is the senior pastor at The Metropolitan Community Church (The Met), 2633 Denver Street, San Diego, California, themetchurch.org. Services every Sunday at 9 and 11 a.m.
