Grateful for the Challengers

[michelle_kitten]

I am thankful for all those who say trans people are foolish, crazy, evil, misguided, or whatever.  Here is why:

 

I've always been self-educated, and above average intelligence though far from genius.  I've always attracted educated and intelligent people to myself.  Many of my friends have been atheist and agnostic, or some flavor thereof.  A lot of educated people tend to lean the direction of shying away from God.  Often challenges to my faith have been given.  Sometimes the challenges are out of mischief and other times out of authentic doubts.  Either way, at some point I realized some of the common challenges to my faith were good questions for which I had no answers.  The criticisms were often stinging.  Rather than sitting by and allowing my faith to be shaken, I chose to dig deep and find answers.  In the end, it has lead to a great deal of spiritual development, and a confidence in my faith I would not otherwise have.  I am grateful for my atheist and agnostic friends and all the people who have challenged me.  I think they have shaped me as much or more than anything from the pulpit.

 

There is good reason why I am putting off labeling myself as trans, and starting a transition (for at least 6 months).  I am look for people to tell me I am wrong.  Sure, I am a bit scared.  Being told you are wrong is never comfortable.  Being opposed can be embarrassing and humiliating.  The more intellectual you believe you are, the more a challenge bites at you.  I am not so scared as to not see the good which comes from being faced with good questions.  I want the growth which comes with challenge, just as in my Christian walk.  I also want the confidence in the end (assuming I do transition) coming from having been challenged and having weathered the storm.

 

There is a hidden benefit of having had my faith challenged.  The blessing is being able to help others, which is deeply rewarding.  I fully expect the same beautiful experience awaits me on the other end of my current journey.  Touching the lives of others with gentleness and kindness is the best this world can offer.

 

Today, I choose to be thankful for the trans detractors and critics.  The nay-sayers are causing me to grow, to dig deep within myself, and preparing me for a life ahead (whatever it might look like).

 

Blessings!

[VickySGV]

There is a Blessing attributed to the Franciscan Order that my priest uses at some times of the church year at the end of our church services along the lines  you are mentioning::

 

May God bless you with a restless discomfort

 about easy answers, half-truths and superficial relationships,

 so that you may seek truth boldly and love deep within your heart.

 

May God bless you with holy anger at injustice, oppression,

 and exploitation of people, so that you may tirelessly work for

 justice, freedom, and peace among all people.

 

May God bless you with the gift of tears to shed with those who suffer

 from pain, rejection, starvation, or the loss of all that they cherish, so that you may

 reach out your hand to comfort them and transform their pain into joy.

 

May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that

 you really CAN make a difference in this world, so that you are able,

 with God's grace, to do what others claim cannot be done.

AMEN

 

Transgender people are some of the most deeply spiritual, although challenging to other people locked in the structures of religious beliefs.  Most people are content to accept they have a Divine Image within them without looking deeply at what that image is, we on the other hand are drawn into a quest to find and venerate that image if we are to live.