I'm old enough to remember when...

I'm old enough to remember when...let's talk about it.

Folk--including Church folk--are in an uproar about Trans using the same restroom as non-Trans. 

I read the posts and listen to the harsh rhetoric, thinking, "But I remember when..."

I remember attending church with...Let me put it this way: The person had a huge Adam's apple, wore skirts and dresses, and their voice was deeper than my son's. 

They didn't hesitate at the ladies restroom door and walked right in just like the rest of the ladies. 

I'd seen the individual around--people watchers don't miss much.😉. I believe the first time I actually heard the person's voice was when they were in a restroom stall next to mine one Sunday morning, talking on the phone. You can imagine the jolt 😲 I felt when I heard a man's voice coming from that stall.  Me being me🙂, I waited around to see who came out of that stall.

This is the important part. I mentioned the incident. The person was known. Folk clocked 👀 the happenings and whispered about it but that was it. Church leaders didn't bar them from the ladies room, create a separate restroom for them, or teach/preach AT or ABOUT them. 

🗣 Don't you just hate arrow sermons? The only person they benefit is the deliverer. When I know I'm being preached at, I'm one of the loudest yelling, "Amen!" 😁 If you don't get over people, you will always live in a world of hurt.

Back then, the church was more concerned about winning the soul of a person who chose an alternative lifestyle, than making sure the clothes and body--which will eventually turn to dust--were acceptable/"correct". There was no exclusion or call for punishment--indirect or direct. The church demonstrated "Come as you are."

For unrelated reasons, I left that ministry some time ago and years have passed. I don't know what's happening there now, but it seems the church became MAGAfied. How do I know? From the words some of the members speak and post. 

There's been so much hate directed toward people like that church attendee. I've read posts where folk I know and worshipped with in the past outright declared their hatred for people who choose an alternative lifestyle.

Now, I wonder if a person like that would/still feel comfortable attending that church. 🤔 Do they still feel the doors of the church are open to them?

🗣 Let me put it this way: If I know a church has members who hate Black people and approve of policies that target and harm them, you'd better believe that me and my Black self will NOT be voluntarily setting a toe in that sanctuary. I'm just sayin'...🤷🏾‍♀️

Do these folk need to change, THEN come to the church? 

🗣 Fish are cleaned AFTER you catch them...not before. Listen, a soul you've dropkicked and stomped isn't going to hear, "Jesus wept," from you and that's real talk.

What if the person has changed their sex...what then? They're not welcomed unless they change it back?

🗣 Does the soul even have a gender? That's a can of worms for some say yea and some say nay.

There have been a lot of changes in the Church over time and all of them do NOT shout or even hint at the love of God, but I'm old enough to remember when...

Just keepin' it real...