Coming Out of Hiding into Healing
I was sitting in Relief Society today, reveling in the sisterly love I feel among the women in there, and suddenly I began to feel uncomfortable. The thought of something to say came into my mind. I tried to push it away, but it kept popping up. Remembering my commitment to open my mouth when God asks, I raised my hand. We had been discussing how to overcome the world, and I said:
“This may be uncomfortable for some, but I feel I should mention that Tuesday is Coming Out day for many in the LGBTQ community. There might be some of us in here who will find out that we have an LGBTQ child, grandchild, or family member. They are not ‘the world.’ They are precious children of God, and He may be inviting them to come out of hiding and into healing. I hope we can remember that ‘the world’ we are called to overcome is not people—we are called to lovingly gather people into our families, communities, and God’s kingdom.”
One of my friends had earlier reminded us that “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son.” He loves his children—He loves us—wherever and whoever we are, regardless of worthiness or standing. He loves us because we are all His family.
If our family members trust us enough to share a hidden part of who they are, I hope that we meet them with kindness. I hope we can greet them with love and acceptance and grace. I hope they don’t regret their decision. I hope that in the coming months and years, as we live with this truth, our hearts will grow several sizes bigger. I hope we become better Christians, better mothers and fathers and sisters and grandparents and children, as we let God teach us how to love as He loves.
I wrote a post last year called “’Why Do You Have to Talk About This?’ Understanding the Need to Come Out.” I won’t repeat everything I said there, but I do invite you to consider what your response will be if someone comes out to you this week. How will you respond? How will you protect their safety? How will you listen out of love, not fear? Can you set aside judgment and listen with openheartedness, both to them and to whatever words God may offer you?
Carl Bloch “Christ Healing the Sick at Bethesda”
This is a sacred week. It’s a time when many choose to come out of darkness and into light, out of hiding and into healing. I often walk to the BYU Museum of Art and sit in from of Carl Bloch’s “Christ Healing the Sick at Bethesda.” I look at Him pulling back the drape and inviting the wounded and hurting soul to come out—come out into the light, come out into the reach of the Savior’s healing hands. I see the skeptical eyes of those watching. I remember the Lord’s invitation to me to come out, to leave my isolation and to let Him reach me with His healing touch. I remember those who questioned my motives and caused me to doubt myself—but then I looked to Him and trusted. What has happened since is good beyond all imagining.
We can trust God to work in our loved ones’ lives for good. He loves them, and He has good intent for them and their happiness. He invites us to love, to embrace, to treat “the least of these” as we would the Lord God Himself. May we be channels of His peace to the fearful, the tear-stained, and the broken-hearted.
