Just Love

As I was writing this I was reflecting on Cher's song ‘Believe.’ Sometimes it's hard to believe in the love the song talks about.  We see people in the highest power in government say very hurtful things to our Trans and non-binary brothers and sisters, especially to the 15,000 plus transgender people who are currently serving in the U.S. military and the 134,000 plus who are veterans.  

As someone who is navigating what their gender identity is, my heart goes out to each one of you. I send you all a big Canadian hug. As a summer intern at Oakridge  Adventist Church in Vancouver,  British Columbia I have started a summer Sabbath school ministry called On Top Of The World. Our theme is to Love Others Well, Love Yourself Well, Love God Well. 

A few words of advice if you are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, Two-Spirited or part of the plus community:

• Love yourself well, love others well, and Love God well.

• Embracing who God created you to be is the most beautiful thing you can do each day of your life.

• Open your arms and heart unconditionally to those who are different to you is the best way you can show God's unconditional love for humanity.

• Thank God overwhelmingly for making you the way you are: a person of faith, a person with a disability, a person of color and even a member of the LGBTQIA2s+ community.

None of us are broken, but beautiful and created in God's image and He loves us no matter how different we are. Lady Gaga says “God does not make mistakes, we (as an  LGBTQIA2s+ Christian community) are born this way. 

As Winter goes on and leads to Spring remember to believe in love.

Love,

Jaden
Kinship Youth Director
Pastoral Intern at Oakridge Adventists Church.