Something big happened recently.
And the fact that it fell on my birthday, was just one of those moments I felt God smile on my life – so I smiled back.
July 25 was our first in-person church service at Open Door Church since Covid, and that was (CUE TEARS) emotional enough.
It was also a faith milestone for me.
Our pastor Bradley asked me to be the one to hang the rainbow flag on our building, as part of our becoming an official affirming church. (
)
I wasn’t prepared for the feelings that flooded my body as I (unsteadily) climbed the ladder(s) to hang this flag. All my years of feeling rejected from church and knowing that I would never truly be welcome.
Wow. What this means to me. To my faith. To my family. To my LGBTQ Christian community.
What this means especially to those who gave up hope desperately wanting to see this beacon in their night.
I want to sit with this.
I want to let it slowly sink to the bottom of my soul like a heavy rock laden with gratefulness.
I want the dust that it kicks up to be my continual reminder that good change is alive and well.
Never give up, my friends. You are SO loved.
STACEY CHOMIAK 