By Rev. Rhina Ramos, ACM
I am reflecting on this opportunity. I have never had this chance in any other employment.
The conference is allowing me to take two weeks of paid leave to dedicate to spiritual reflection. What a privilege!
I hope to brainstorm my second book, something along the lines of faith and doubts. They co-exist in a perfect balance. It is sometimes from the darkest places of the soul that our strongest convictions come to life.
Before I came out of the closet, I used to fear that if I allowed myself to admit I was a lesbian and also a Christian, the rest of my convictions were going to disappear. This never happened. The foundation of my Christianity rooted even more deeper. The tenets of a faith I had based on fear were shaken up, but in return I obtained a faith that was more compassionate and loving for me and for those around me.
It wasn’t until I became ordained to plant Ministerio Latino that I understood my coming out broke my heart open. I was invited to be humble and realize that what I thought to be absolute truths were merely rigid beliefs of internalized homophobia.
We can always be more loving.
We can always be less faithful, more doubtful, and more questioning. That is not a bad thing.
We can always undergo transformation and growth.
Amen
Rhina, This is so exciting to read. By being out and open with us, you are contributing to my spiritual development and that of others, I am sure. You wrote, “ We can always be more loving. We can always be less faithful, more doubtful, and more questioning. That is not a bad thing.”
This applies to me too, and I am grateful to read it and think about how it applies to me, a cis-gender woman with my own doubts.
Winnie
This sounds like a book well worth reading. Go for it!