If you're paying attention to any sort of media of late, you've no doubt heard that the 'most epochal decision since woman got the vote' has come down the pike, but I would argue that this is not the phenomenal societal bang advocates are now proclaiming it to be, rather it will probably be remembered as simply another page, perhaps the last page, bearing only the words, 'the end,' in the long struggle for official social recognition of this particular lifestyle in the United States, neither is it the end of civilization, society, or marriage as some opponents are proclaiming it. Now I don't usually get into politics on this blog and I have no intention of doing so now. I will not analyze the societal implications of this decision, we have experts on both sides to prognosticate and only time will show us the true impact. Rather I'd like to look at an issue that the media and talking heads probably have absolutely no interest in. What now?
After the parties and parades and rejoicing, what now? It will be like the morning after graduation: waking up and wondering what to do with the rest of your life. For so long it has been 'the struggle' keeping the movement going, uniting various factions, giving meaning and purpose to so many, etc. Sure, there will still be a few dissenters to throw to the lions, but what now? Socially, the battle is long over, the lifestyle isn't even 'cool' any more; it is normal. Being gay nowadays is about as controversial as having a tattoo or purple hair or a lip piercing. Name a current TV show that doesn't have a hip, sophisticated gay character. Yep, it's mainstream. Welcome to the mundane, everyday world of normal! The court's decision surprised no one, society's attitude towards it has been genial at almost every level for several years, it was only official recognition that was lagging behind and now that hurdle is behind us. Now what is there to fight for?
I am only theorizing here, but I wonder if some within the movement will wake up some morning not long after this pivotal victory and wonder if it was such a good thing after all? After all, it was the movement itself, the struggle against injustice, against society's disapproval and oppression of this particular people group that made some within the community feel special and gave them all their meaning and purpose. Now with official recognition and approval, with the lifestyle being so widely approved and accepted (save for a few 'archaic and bigoted' dissenters), who will be left outside the community to applaud and support and encourage? It's over, it's now a non-issue, at least as far as most of the uninitiated will see it; you've won the race, awesome, let's go get something to eat and see what's on TV… It is legal, it is normal, it is…well, boring! Occupy Wall Street was trumpeted as some epochal movement, but does anyone even remember it today? Yesterday's media darling is today's humdrum, ho hum non-story.
But this is nothing new, people have been trying to be important and special since the world began and they are always looking for approval in all the wrong places, namely from their fellow men. It isn't this particular lifestyle either, it can be anything from wearing the right toga to listening to the right music, but whatever it is, even with all the world giving its hearty approval, we still go away empty, because human applause is always fickle and ephemeral. It is something we crave with our inmost beings, and rightly so, for we were made for just that, but we are looking for it from the wrong source. Only the One who gave us the craving can fulfill it, but we can't earn it or buy it or be trendy or cool enough to acquire it of ourselves. Even the court's blessing will not suffice to fill the emptiness in the hearts of those who hoped this decision would be 'the answer,' to their greatest desire, their deepest longing, for they have misplaced their trust. Even if every person on the planet approved of and celebrated this particular lifestyle, they would still go away empty, for it will never be enough. A hobby, a lifestyle, a romantic interest, a child, a job, a skill, a race, a gender, an age, fortune, power, fame, none of it will fill that longing.
We can fool ourselves into thinking we'll be content once we are married, once the house is paid off, once the adoption is finalized, once we get that job, whatever, but the days after 'it' happens reveal that we are still as discontented as ever so we set a new goal and strive towards that, only to come away empty again. It's the morning after Christmas and we can't figure out where the joy went. The Joy has always been there, it is we who have shifted our gaze to lesser things. As the Serpent whispered in the Garden, 'ye can be gods!' we are finding godhood far less satisfying than we thought it should be. But we weren't made for godhood, and therein lies our hope. Man cannot become god, but God did become man, and that is freedom indeed!
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