From last week's Daily Meditation series on Gender and Sexuality, these are some powerful, affirming comments by James Finley. I found his words robust, hopeful, in context with greater themes and very detailed regarding what actual abuse is. The title for this reading is actually In Pursuit of Sexual Justice. YES. It felt good to hear these words and to read them. You feel very, very alone.
"An important place to start (on this topic) is the importance of our understanding of our God-given dignity as human beings created by God in the image and likeness of God. In God, we're created equal, and each person through the generosity of God is worth all that God is worth. That value or worth isn't based on achievement or attainment. Parents recognize this in their newborn infant, that innate, inherent dignity and preciousness of human life that then needs to be respected and protected.
Our sexual boundaries need to be respected. Through free consent gravitating, moves toward commitment, makes the world go around. Sexuality is a such a God given integral aspect ofo\\ ur human experience. It's the foundation of the family. There's nothing that's more powerful or contributing to happiness and fulfillment than sexuality in this broad sense of the word, but also for this very reason, because it's so intimate, there's nothing more destructive when it's abused or violated.
How can we ground oureslves in practical terms? Faith
Secondly, Sexuality such a god given integratal sexuality aspect of our human experience. Our sexuality deserves to be respected. deserves to be respected as a gift. minimum means our sexual boundaries be respected. no one be sexual with us that . free between two people who care about each other, be there for eadch other, gravitating toward closeness warmth, moves toward commitment, makes world go around, foundation of the family."
*****
This Monday was possibly one of the best days I've had in a very, very long time.
I am feeling physically stronger. The pelvic pain is subsiding due to the muscle-release techniques both the DO and chiropractor are doing. I'm astonished. It was reaching a point of panic for me as it wasn't going away, ever. I used to have months without flares; that seemed to be gone. It seems my white blood cell count is climbing as I didn't have any times today where I was out of breath like all of last week.
Mentally, I felt calm. I talked to Mom on the phone three times today and felt fine. It felt like a normal daughter/mother conversation and scenarios when the mother is stubborn and a bit delusional by nature and now has dementia. It felt the very opposite of co-dependent. That is stunningly fantastic.
I made dinner. We ate it at home. We didn't fight. I think we both enjoyed it. I felt great to grocery shop and have good cooking smells in my own house again. I made a recipe that's a Blue Zone recipe.
I was on a routine much of the day and was checking in to see how I was doing throughout the day. Got a long walk in first thing, hills even, though not the exercises.
Probably only thing today that I'm not proud of is how I handled the insurance agents I had to deal with regarding our house repayment from the insurance company. I escalated to the supervisor and then things got a little better. It is so frustrating to have a check you can't cash.
I don't feel depressed. I'm not in significant pain that I'm managing. I'll go to bed pretty soon here at a decent hour.
If this is the future, it looks bright.
I feel so grateful to so many people right now, including myself, including God and the Divine. I am hopeful my dreams of a stable life can come true, for both me and for Jay.