Pride Poem and Spiritual Wellbeing

The pout of my lover’s lips
Once they’ve grazed across mine
Or
The sunlight dappled across her face
As we laid in the grass
No, there isn’t anything
Anything at all
That could take my pride away from me
No gun, no war, no pain or death
Could take away
The beauty I have known
The love I have received.
The resurrection of coming out
Has freed me from the snares of sin
And damnation.
You can take my body, you can take my soul,
But you will never, no, not ever
Take away
My pride.

1. The kinds of global crises that challenge our values and ethics are innumerable. From the desperation of the refugee caught in a pandemic to the plight of entire intricate, life-sustaining ecosystems being destroyed overnight, the world is rife with the stuff despair is made of. Forums that help individuals inform themselves and thus move to action include researching the topics at hand, thinking deeply about one’s own gifts and talents, and reaching out to those who are already making a difference. In this path of self-searching and research, an individual can move from despair over issues to action.
2. I am grateful to say that there are a number of things that give me a sense of meaning, but above all, it is my faith in Jesus Christ. I do not write this to evangelize or to convince you to believe in him, too. I write this as an honest response to the question posed. My faith has saved my life in very tangible ways from depression, anxiety, and the like. It motivates me to make my life a gift to the world, leaving it a better place than when I got here in some small way.
3. What challenges my sense of connectedness to others is not being listened to, isolation due to pandemic, and differences between my loved ones and I that we are not willing to confront. To protect myself from doubt, I pray every day, speak deeply to those who support me, and commit to serving others. With these spiritual tools, I stay connected to the spiritual and physical world in meaningful ways.