Soulforce’s visit went very well. People were more than just cordial, they were kind. More than just personable, they cared enough to get personally involved with the Equality Ride members. When it was all over, I spoke with Jacob Reiten, co-director of the ride. He said some interesting things. He said (and this is not an exact quote) that his goal was not to change our minds about considering homosexuality a sin, but to open dialogue for the idea and to end discrimination. He also thought that in forty years, people who consider homosexuality a sin will be a small minority in the United States.
And I started thinking. (My first mistake, most of the time.) >What if we did allow open and uncloseted members of the GLBT community to attend ACU? Could we really hurt anything by allowing them to be better educated on the Bible and opening debate with other students? I keep hearing from people about how we are trying to hold up certain standards for our university. But if Jesus was in Royce Money’s position, would he maybe want us to be closer to these individuals rather than isolated from them? Would the community created have the power to heal and possibly change? Why keep others out, when we know we havea good thing going here?
I don’t know. But I’m thinking. I’m also impressed that we were the only school on their route so far to have forums with them, to eat with them (administrators on down), to give them a place to stay. For they are truly the least of these, aren’t they?
After a relatively short break, I’m back in the blogosphere.
I had a great time on my Spring Break Campaign.
Last night, I went to a chapel forum (counts for three credits, held a few evenings during the semester) where a couple who run a special-needs orphanage in China spoke. They have six children, including two adopted from China, and the kids really stole the show. While the parents were having a question and answer session with students, Levi and Reid, the two youngest, were dancing on the stage behind them.
I need to explain a little bit about Levi. He was found in a field when he was less than a year old with burns on 70% of his body. One arm is almost nothing but a nub (though he finds ways to use it - I’ll explain in a moment), and his other arm has a thumb and three short fingers the doctors have shaped out of muscle tissue.
Anyway, while the parents were talking and we were watching the kids play, some friends and I decided that we should get them some toys. They’re missionary kids in the States just for a few months, and we thought that toys were probably the first thing to get sacrificed for space on the trip over. So, after the presentation, we went and asked Wayne Barnard if he thought it would be appropriate. He enthusiastically agreed, and introduced us to the parents. The mother gushed over us for a bit, and told us what each kids were interested in (luckily Dr. Barnard had a pen):
Levi (4) and Reid (5) - Zorro stuff (they just saw the movie)
Oliver (7) - Pokemon or scary stuff
Oraly (sp?) (8) - My Little Pony or anything girly
Ian (7) - Star Wars
Emily (13) - “Cheesy” jewelry, other girl stuff
All told, me and my buddies had blast. The most difficult barrier was shopping for Emily. None of us has ever been a thirteen-year-old girl (nor are we likely to be), and it took us as long to pick out something for her as it did to get everything else. She seemed as pleased as the rest of them, however.
Around 10:15 we showed up at the hotel. The parents were meeting someone at Crackle Barrel, and had left the kids at the hotel to wait for us. When we walked in, it was like Christmas. Christmas in the way that it is with kids under ten, though - not like it is when everyone is older.
For over an hour, we were shot, stabbed, kicked, puched, jumped on, and just about everything else you can be by 4 boys. I was shocked that Levi could even hold the sword, but he held his own. Yep, for over an hour, the hotel room was a battlefield. The three of us were like Titans, but the boys were powerful warriors who weren’t afraid to aim low and choke from behind when necessary.
Eventually, the parents walked in, but they didn’t stop us. They seemed just as entertained. I talked to the mother some more before we left. When we finally did leave (the other two had curfew), she hugged us and said, “Next time in China.”
I laughed. I didn’t say, “No,” or, “Never.” I tried that with a certain country in South America one time and I seem to be more wrong everyday. So I’ll accept that I have no clue as to what’s going on.
(Probably not, though.)
