My Bishop and an Old Roommate

There are a shortage of great bishops in this world. I am terribly blessed to have come in contact with one of them.

Last night was tithing settlement (early, I know). After doing the regular thing with tithing settlement, we just started chatting. School, work, family...the basics. He then asked me about my blog. He reads this, you know.

I told him that I had went on a few dates with another guy, but nothing happened. He asked me why I ended breaking up with him. I told my bishop that the guy I was dating became obsessed with sex; talking about it, texting about it, things like that. I said that I didn't want something like that to be a part of a relationship, and clearly not something to base a relationship on. He then asked me something that surprised me.

"Why didn't you have sex with him?"

I thought for a moment and then I said, "I don't know. I guess...I just don't want that in my life. I believe that sex should be shared between two people who love each other and who have proved to each other that they are in a committed and loving relationship."

I paused for a moment and then added, "Besides, that's not the person I am."

My bishop said, "That was the answer I was looking for. I am proud of you."

Even though I am proud of myself for not giving in, I am more amazed how this man, my bishop, talks to me. I have never met another man like him in the church. Now, I understand that he is not condoning my life choices. However, what I do know is that he is being a perfect example of Jesus Christ. Something many many people struggle with.

Last night, one of my old roommates who happened to be gay came and stayed the night at my house. We had a great time reminiscing of our past together (just friends, duh) and all the good times we had. This roommate also told me some sobering news.

This roommate used to babysit his nieces almost every weekend in Salt Lake. Sadly, someone told his extended family members that he was gay and everything went downhill. My ex roommate received a text from them which basically said, "Do not talk to us. Do not visit us. Do not text us. Do not call us. You are longer a part of our family."

As he told me this, I could tell that this hurt him very much. My old roommate is a strong man, but he has been through a lot of crap, and this isn't helping to diminish the pile he already has to deal with.

It just irks me and makes me extremely angry and depressed that people, who are members of the Church, who profess to be Christians shut off a family member. They have put a wall between them and the love my roommate has for them. Its hard to put into words how sad I feel for my roommate. No one should be treated like that. No one should be discriminated and belittled for something they didn't choose.

But, my roommate will pull through it. Just like he has with all his other problems in the past. He is a strong man; a great friend; and a wonderful example of righteousness, Christlike attributes and love. He is a man just like my bishop.

And I love them both.