CLP Newsletter July 2009

Well, perhaps every new child or new book is the favorite at the moment. But, honestly, I am so excited about the release of this book! And I think once you see it, you’ll want to give this (bargain priced $9.99) gift book for lots of occasions–weddings, anniversaries, engagements, any celebration of love or anytime love needs a little encouragement.

Surely I could not be the only one to make this discovery–but in repeating to myself The 23^rd Psalm whenever I wanted to revisit that lovely piece–it occurred to me that this scripture gives us not only the pattern for how the Lord our Shepherd guides us, but also a pattern for how we are called to become shepherds to one another in all of our relationships. This new book, for couples, is the first of a series. Next spring will be released: The Lord is My Shepherd: Inspiration for Mothers.

All you friends of mine out there who are in a relationship (and there is nothing in this book that would not speak to gay couples as well as straight couples)–do you understand what a remarkable opportunity you have to bless each other’s lives?

I would love to read aloud the entire book to every one of you while you hold each other. But as I can’t, I will envision you reading it aloud and making commitments to be better shepherds to one another and to the love that you share. You can read two sections of the book by clicking http://www.clpearson.com/shepherd.htm.

A few days ago I stood at the top of the hills near my home with a new friend, Kay Fletcher, pastor of the local Community of Christ (formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). She looked at the awesome view, threw her arms up into the air and said, “Oh, this is so beautiful! There ought to be a ritual up here!”

“Actually, there is, Kay,” I said. “Every time I come up here I bless the world, and if there is someone with me, I invite them to bless it with me.”

“Wonderful!” So Kay and I stood there at the top of the hill, raised our arms, brought the good energy of Mother Earth up through our feet, legs, through our seven chakras, up our arms, and out through the palms of our hands and our fingers. We slowly turned around in a circle and visualized that powerful energy soaring out to cover the entire globe, to bless everyone we love and everyone we don’t love, everyone everywhere.

I visited her congregation a few weeks ago with my friend Clark Pingree, who was excited when I told him the Community of Christ here in Walnut Creek was a Welcoming Community Network congregation that accepts gay people, http://www.welcomingcommunitynetwork.org.

During our hike up the hill she had told me, “Our church had a booth last week at San Francisco’s PRIDE parade. I so wanted to reach out to people I know are hurting. Hundreds of gay people stopped at our booth, some who had a history with our church, quite a few who used to be Mormons. I remember one Mormon man who told me he had been promised that if his mission was successful he would be healed of his homosexuality. His mission was successful, but he was not healed of his homosexuality and then he was excommunicated.” Here Kay stopped hiking to attend to some tears. “How can we do such things to these beautiful young men?”

At the end of our visit, I signed a copy of No More Goodbyes: Circling the Wagons around Our Gay Loved Ones for her to give to the president of their church. “I know he’ll read it,” she said. “Our church is struggling to find the right way to minister to our gay people.” And she shared with me a book she had brought, Homosexual Saints, stories of gays in the Community of Christ, written by William Russell, who has had a long career as a historian and worker for civil rights (and who receives this newsletter; thanks, Bill for your great work!). I’ve only begun to read the book, but I know I’ll find the stories are not much different for the gay people in their church as for the gay people in my church. What did I say just last month?–“The same heart beats in every human breast.”

ANOTHER SUICIDE: To remind you how important is the work that you and I are doing for our gay brothers and sisters, here is a portion of an email I received two weeks ago:

“I am the mother of a gay son who is happy living with his partner in NYC. I live in Utah. On Friday a young LDS man I know who is 19 committed suicide. He tried to talk to his parents for three years telling them he was gay. They would not listen to him. They just kept telling him he needed to be fixed and that he needed counseling. They also tried to ‘pray away the gay.’ Where do I begin or what can I do to make a difference in the lives of these young men who feel rejected from their families. It happens way too often.”

Everyone reading this can make a difference by giving a copy of No More Goodbyes to someone you think is struggling or to a leader in your church. The book has saved lives and helped to heal families. And please remember the national hotline for troubled gay youth http://thetrevorproject.org/helpline.aspx .

TELEPHONE CONSULTATIONS. Could you benefit from a telephone consultation/conversation with Carol Lynn about any of the issues with which she has experience? http://clpearson.com/consultations.htm.

“I can’t believe how many wonderful doors you opened up for me in our conversation! Truly, I see so many things differently now!” L.

RETREATS. Interested in bringing Carol Lynn to your area for a retreat on any of the subjects she specializes in?–The Divine Feminine–The Magic and Meaning of Coincidence–Gay Issues–Spirituality. Contact her at clp@clpearson.com.

“I’m still in heaven from our great retreat. I did not know how much I missed Our Mother. And guess who is also glad I went? My husband! He says it’s been a long time since his wife was this happy.” J.

AUTOGRAPHED BOOKS. Can’t wait to sign for you The Lord is My Shepherd: Inspiration for Couples! FREE COPY OF NO MORE GOODBYES to all orders for any item on CLP website through July 11. Give yourself or your loved one a signed copy of Embracing Coincidence; In Love Again and Always; Beginnings and Beyond, or any of the other many Carol Lynn Pearson books available at http://www.clpearson.com/personal_gifts.htm

Speaking of circling the wagons around our gay loved ones–or any one else who might be left out in the cold–here’s something I read this morning in A Course in Miracles:

“Each one you see you place within the holy circle...or leave outside. If you bring him into the circle...you will rest there with him. If you leave him without, you join him there... Holiness must be shared, for therein lies everything that makes it holy.”