Now, THAT'S What I Call "A Happy New Year!"

At midnight in Baltimore, James Scales and William Tasker went from being merely roommates in the eyes of the law to being lawfully-wedded husbands. They were one of six couples to marry at City Hall with the Mayor serving as the officiant. Weddings reportedly were occurring throughout the state last night as marriage equality arrived in full force in Maryland. Voters there gave it a thumbs-up during the November election, making them the first state south of the Mason-Dixon Line to achieve equality for LGBT couples, and one of three states where the voters, not the courts or the state legislatures, said, "Yes" to allowing LGBT couples to get married.

All of this happened inspite of the opposition of the Roman Catholic Church, which tried to hold Maryland's Governor Martin O'Malley hostage to his church's opposition to marriage equality.  It didn't work.  He pushed to have the bill passed, and signed into law.  And the voters had his back in November.

To me, this speaks to a huge turning point in our country.  And it goes to show that what is written in 1 John is really true:  "perfect love casts out fear."  I, for one, am resolved this year to do whatever I can to bring love down into these parts that still haven't moved passed their fear.  I am committed to being a queer face of Christ, here on this blog, in the church, and in the world, and opening the doors to the amazing banquet hall of God wider and wider. 

Do I hear an "Amen?"