The power of home

Hey rantsters,  you know the old cliche home is where the heart is?  Well I have proven it to be a fact!  Scientist take note.  My travels this summer have have given me insight into this theory, and I want to share my experiences with you.  Now this field testing took place over the last two weeks, and has a slight margin of error (throw some weird number in there).  All in all I think I could change the face of the world with this data, so here it is.

Two weeks ago I embarked upon the Boston Bay, Headed to a little town in Cape Cod called Provincetown. Here I began a week of tedious and fulfilling volunteer work that was a year in planning.  This annual event is know as Family Week for COLAGE. COLAGE is the Only National youth driven network for people with a LGBTQ parent or Guardian.  This Organization has been around for 20 years now and Family Week is a 15 year part of its tradition.  Now this was only my second year attending, so I didn't fully know what I would feel.  The last time I was there I became very close to a lot of people, but some of them weren't returning and some were only gonna be facilitating part of the week.

As we all met together to board the ferry (yes a 2 hour ferry ride in which I was sea sick for most of it) I felt like part of my family had been reunited.  Docking on the shores of Provincetown was an amazing feeling.  One because I was back on solid ground again and two because I felt like I was home.  Throughout the week that feeling was ever present.  When the youth got there and we were doing our programming, so many of them came to me and shared stories of last year and were so excited.  There were a ton of hugs and love all around.  By the end of the week I was in tears because I almost didn't want to leave home for home.  The time I spent  with my family there was invaluable, but alas the long plane ride home was here.

Now don't get me wrong, there was a lot of people I missed at home, but Utah is kinda boring. Still when I got off the plane I couldn't wait to see all the people and here what happened in my absence.  When I got back to Logan, I was once again home.  The first stop the good ole Pike house.  All of my brothers were enjoying the weather and having a good time.  I was home. Hung out with my brother (who are my family) for a while, just laughing and kicking back.  Then it was on to my apartment, where my roommates met me with open arms. The love was everywhere, whether it was brotherly or friendly.  I knew I was home.

My research has brought me to a simple yet complex answer. Home is not a place, it doesn't have a zipcode or an address.  Its the people you consider family.  I have been in a place so familiar as Dallas TX and felt so far removed from home.  Home is a place of true comfort and acceptance.  Home is where the heart is and my heart belongs with my family.  So here is a shout out to all my rantster family, Thank you for being my home.

Much love,

Coop

P.S.  I'm a scientific genius!!

WWJSTC (When Will Jesus Stop These Crazies!)

So today I was hipped to a video posted by Pastor Wayne Sapp (such a fitting last name) about "International burn the Koran Day" Sept. 11 2010.  This seems more like "idiotic christian fanatic hypocrisy day" to me.  I was so thoroughly offended that it took me an entire day to gather my thoughts for this post.  I attached the video so you can see it for yourself.  Now I am a Christian, I believe in Christ and the words in the bible (so far as I can interpret them on my own because obviously people get the message screwed up),  and no where in the good book have I read "Thou shalt demean another religion because thou art better than them."  Maybe I am missing it.  I sure would like to find out where it is, because I'm at a loss of words trying to figure out why he is even worried about them.  I mean doesn't he have  a flock of mindless sheep to lead to there destruction?

I tell you what I have read in the Bible, and you would be shocked to know that it has nothing to do with burning other faiths holy books. In Matthew 22 Jesus is asked what is the great commandment.  Hi response is simple, " Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first great commandment.  And the second is like unto it. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as THYSELF."

WOW!  How about that! You aren't supposed to hate someone because they don't have your same belief. you are suppose to love them as you would love yourself.  Now if you are suicidal that might pose a problem for us being friend, but I digress.  The point is whatever someone chooses to believe is their choice.  It's not my or pastor whackjob's  duty to dictate that they are evil or not.  I again distinctly remember reading in Matthew 7 that it is not your job to judge your fellow man.

Either way Christians, Athiests, Muslims, Agnostics, Goddesses, people in general need to speak up and speak out against such blatant attacks on humanity.  These actions only further the disparity in the human family.  I believe that what ever God, or entity, or nothing you believe in did not put us hear to hate.