Sunday, June 3, 2012

Time to Stop Lying to Myself (and Others)

My name is Jim, and I'm an ATHEIST
And let me get one other thing out there before I even really get started.  I know this tidbit of information isn't new to some of you.  It's not something I've hidden per se, just something I have held back to a degree because of fear of the repercussions of making that statement outside of a small circle of people.  Specifically I worried about my job, and any potential negatives that might come with making that statement.  My hope is that by putting this out there, it will in essence force my hand about this fear.  And here is the nitty gritty of it. I can't keep lying to myself.  I can't.  And I especially can't in the face of fear over how others may take this.  I can't continue this self revelation and still hold concern over how some people might view me.  What this really means, is that I have to be okay with the possibility that someone out there will cast me out of their lives on account of me coming out.  And my justification to making this decision was pretty simple.  Anyone who would actually judge me to the point that they would pull back as a consequence, I don't need in my life.  I hate absolutes.  I HATE divisive actions and behaviors.  But I have to do this.  I have to say to the world.

This is who I am, and if you love me, you will love me for WHO I AM.

So there it is folks, the least alienating way I can say that to the world.  And yes, this blog will go off on a host of tangents that may be a LOT more divisive, but I will never go out of my way to alienate anyone.  I will say what I think, I will speak my honest mind, but if you're still reading this, I think you are the kind of person who can respect my ideas, even if you disagree with them.  And know this, I can respect yours in that same way.  I want and encourage anyone who has thoughts, or opinions on anything I say to feel free to say it.  I love to engage in discussions. 

A final word (for now) is that I want everyone who can accept me for who I am to know that I can never tell you what that means to me.  Beyond just saying that this knowledge is sooooo self affirming that I swell with joy to know it.  And for anyone who can't make this leap, I understand.  And I will mourn losing you as friends. 

7 comments:

  1. Appropriately timed, about to do this myself...

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  2. Hi, my name is Angela and I am an Atheist too. And very proud of my man.

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    1. Thank you baby. I strive to be as open and honest with myself as you have been for years.

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  3. By the way, your blog has inspired me on a couple different levels. Thinking about starting one of these myself and getting back to "living". Keep it up, you have at least one reader...

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    1. Thank you Bill. I can't encourage you enough to start doing it. And believe me, you'll have a reader out the gate too.

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  4. I love you as you are.

    And while I believe in a loving, merciful, Creator God (who I also believe is chasing after you)I also believe, with all of my being, that your choices in this regard are your own.

    I pray that (no pun intended) my belief won't drive you from me.

    Peace,

    Kirk

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    1. Kirk - You will never have to worry about any faith driving you from me. I know you FAR too well to ever think that you (or I) would ever let our differences be divisive. I am thankful that my family are such a tolerant and loving group. You guys really are the inspiration that reminds me that the religious intolerance I see around me is an aberration of what faith really can (and should) be. I love you exactly as you are and would never want you to be anything other than the amazing man you are.

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