Praying for light – gay marriage and the aftermath

Marriage equality?

Well, it’s official.

Marriage equality has arrived in America. It seems appropriate to mark the occasion, seeing as the issue hits so close to home.

Where to start? First, I’ll begin by saying that I am happy beyond words that gays and lesbians throughout the Nation, finally, will have the exact same civil benefits and responsibilities everyone else is afforded. It is proper and right that we should have them.

No government of a nation dedicated to treating its citizens equally under the law should be allowed to discriminate against its own citizens. Moreover, no nation that claims to pride itself on valuing property rights can dare to deny to citizens the basic right to enter into a contract. That being said, this decision, the debate leading up to it and the aftermath that has followed, is not something I feel like dancing and smiling about. You will not find my profile pic draped in a rainbow flag.

To die for: suicide and survival

Pissed (album) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This series takes a detour from Sniperhunter2012’s usual writing style.

Frequent visitors will observe that your correspondent attempts (as much as is possible) to write in the third person. I do this primarily to convey objectivity. This habit began because prior to launching Sniperhunter2012 I worked with a well known news, commentary, and lifestyle site whose editorial requirements demanded an objective, third person narrative.

This series cannot be written that way. The theme and subject are far too personal.

fair warning to readers: some may find the subject of this series upsetting or disturbing.

Last week I survived my second suicide attempt. Fifteen years ago I failed to die by hanging. Last week a bottle of prescription pills (not mine) was unsuccessful in taking me out. I’m not telling you to gain sympathy, for attention, or to be dramatic for drama’s sake.

As always I write for my own pleasure and insight. I do hope, however, that my comments on these failed attempts to end my life will grab the attention of folks who might, in some small way, benefit or learn from my difficulties. Perhaps they may gain something from my repeated failures. Maybe my anger is useful after all.

I’m fucking pissed at myself and pissed at God, you see.

Perhaps my anger and this tirade will find folks a hell of a lot more open to possibility than I was when I downed those pills and wrapped those ties around my neck.

Psalm kind of wonderful

from google images

At times, say when a loved one has passed or we’ve just been offered that long expected big promotion, have been through a horrible break up, or just need a shoulder to lean on, we turn to music for distraction, to think, or to sob. Have you ever been having a thing and just when you needed it the most heard the song that helps you muddle through or to sing with unapologetic happiness? Perhaps even a whole string of em back to back, like some Perfect cosmic playlist from who knows where shared just with you at that exact moment?

When Hunter tunes in to songs which move him, he’s listening to life’s soundtrack at a finite moment in time. In that moment he can almost hear the soft, melodic voice (or the pained ‘no!’ screams) of His Maker communicating with Hunter’s stubborn psyche.

In His Footsteps – A prayer for the lost

Father & Son (Photo credit: jeroenadema)

YouTube burned in holy fire last week with debate over a phenomenal vid by Jeff Bethke that begs this intriguing question: What if Jesus came to abolish religion?

Getting nearly 22.5 million hits it looks like quite a few people were intrigued by Bethke’s idea.

The Middle East burns in religious rage, holy men like the Dalai Lama discuss mankind moving beyond religion, Pope Benedict seeks reconciliation between Christians and Muslims; all manner of philosophy/spirituality talk is coming to the fore.

God, Jesus, spirituality and religion are on our lips. However, besides the likes of folk like Jeff Bethke who have moral courage enough to ask us to seek answers about fundamentals, how many of us have questions about the Creator and the Creator’s will on our minds these days?

When was the last time we asked the big questions?

Pray for us sinners…..

SIN EDITAR (Photo credit: angel almanzo grupo 52)

Nothing strummed Hunter’s mind strings to write about till he perused a dear friend’s (shout out: God bless, Deb. Love you) FB. Got to thinking about Grace and forgiveness, especially about forgiveness and prayer for the sake of those who hurt us. Why do we pray for those who mean us or cause us harm? The crucifixion, resurrection, and the eternity that Christ spent in Hell cleared the way for those who accept that gift. Prayer and forgiveness for others can, at first blush, do little for them or for us, so why? Can’t honestly say I know for sure I have the answer to that question but, as always, when Hunter is perplexed he looks to music to guide him.

Hunter sees music as the still, small voice of God screaming HIS head off at us or crying for us – through the words,  the voices, and the sounds of others. We don’t always hear HIM when HE speaks to our minds directly, but we damn well do when the music plays.