turned the corner

window display at the American Visionary Museum in Baltimore 

what does it take 

to turn the corner

on issues 

bogging us down

we turned the corner on racism

when the likes of martin luther king jr. 

and rosa parks

stood their ground

and took their rightful seat

we turned the corner on 

sexism when suffragettes

took to the streets

and many years later 

faithful women and men 

in the church 

listened and prayed 

and studied 

and opened the way

for full participation in 

the ministries of the church

without question

without condition 

we have a history 

of turning the corner

we also have history enough

to know that when we 

finally turn the corner 

the angst and struggle 

for many 

continue 

for years to come

for racism

and sexism 

continue

the church 

for the most part

for the bigger part

has not yet turned the 

corner of homophobia

small corners of the church

have turned

or 

are about to turn the corner

and for many 

this is life giving 

the larger church i serve 

has not yet turned the corner

when we do

our affirmation will 

define 

homophobia as 

destructive

and counter to 

gospel values

i've been in a five year

personal turning

i've found the grace

and unconditional love

to affirm 

self- hatred 

self-condemnation

are counter to 

gospel values

i am fully aware 

that others will not 

turn the corner with me

and i suppose

i have no power over this

i am also fully aware

that i cannot and will not

step back into that 

place where i chose 

and allowed the voices

and actions of others 

to degrade me

and bully me 

it was my choice

not to turn the corner

i resisted

pushed away

ignored 

GOD'S love

in the place of 

GOD'S love 

i longed for those 

who condemned 

to affirm me

but my choosing 

was counter to 

gospel values

i wanted from people

what GOD can only offer

when i finally

fell 

literally fell to my knees 

and recognized 

GOD's love

when i finally

let go of my 

unwillingness to receive 

GOD's love

when i finally 

saw past the fear

i was dumping on myself

and allowing others to 

dump on me

i found 

the love

the power 

to stand back 

up

and when i did

i turned the corner

and around the corner 

i walked into a new beginning

not concocted from my own design 

or the design of others

around the corner 

i claim the history of GOD's

unconditional love 

active throughout my life

love i could not 

comprehend 

until know

for around the corner

things become much 

clearer

around the corner 

i claim a future

where GOD's

unconditional love

unfolds on a daily basis

filling me with 

humility, surprise

and joy

around the corner 

i can no longer

allow the voices 

of judgment 

and bullying 

and pretentious piety 

to squelch what 

GOD 

so freely and 

lovingly 

gives

i've turned the corner

and i pray and long

for the day 

when the larger church 

i serve and the 

culture i live in 

turns 

the 

corner