Welcome to another Grateful Heart Monday, where I begin my week expressing a piece of gratitude I have for something that has touched my life, which for today is for Christ.
For those who know me, I’m not a religious person and don’t attend any church. Yet that doesn’t stop me from really appreciating the legacy Christ left behind over 2000 years ago. While the stories of Christ in the Bible may or may not be completely factual, if there is one thing I do believe and have gratitude for when it comes to Christ, it’s the principle of unconditional love that He demonstrated time and time and time again, even in the face of adversity.
From all the things I’ve read in my spiritual studies, Christ was definitely a man who cared about everybody and everything. He always looked for the good in anyone he met, even those that were considered outcasts in society or sinners at best. And he forgave anyone for their past transgressions, no matter what, which is something that has always inspired me to do the same.
There are plenty of stories about Christ that have moved me greatly, but the one that stands out the most with me lately is about the woman who simply clawed as his robe from the ground, desperately trying to seek healing for a bleeding condition that had plagued her for many, many years. She received healing that day from Christ and was freed from something that had been incredibly painful to live with.
I think about this a lot when it comes to my own health issues these days and often picture myself doing the same as her by reaching out and clawing for a mere touch of Christ’s clothes. As I believe that even in the face of all the pain and damage I caused so many in this life, that I too would receive healing from that action and after I did, that Christ would deeply embrace me, letting me know I’ve always been unconditionally loved by Him and God.
You see it’s all those stories of Christ going against the tide by lovingly engaging with every walk of life, even those that were considered blasphemy at the time, that has filled me with gratitude. Nowadays, I find it hard-pressed to see anyone offering acts of unconditional love, especially people who are ultra-conservative.
In the eyes of many of those people, I’m a total sinner, because I’m a gay man living in a gay relationship. The mere act of being with my partner is blasphemy to them and yet, I know deep down somehow that Christ would be ok with it because not only was I created in the image of God, I also do my best every day to monogamously love my partner heart, mind, and soul, which is at the core of Christ’s very teachings.
Nevertheless, I strive to be like Christ and although I fail again and again and know I have a long way to go to ever be like Him, I fully believe that Christ still loves me like a son and for that, I’m truly thankful, which is why I’m choosing to begin this week with gratitude for a man who continues to touch my life, even from over 2000 years ago…
Peace, love, light, and joy,
Andrew Arthur Dawson
