Hi Bobby,
I’m Martin, a Gay Christian Phoenician (AZ not Ancient). I strongly wish you well in your writing. I’m a reader and need lots of writers to keep me supplied. Seems you’re very busy but not fulfilled. Sounds to me as if you haven’t found your “calling.” Don’t know if that’s a familiar concept. If there is something you believe in deeply & intensely, follow where that belief leads you. This usually takes courage and perseverance, but is worth the effort (in Spanish the saying is “vale la pena” “worth the pain”). Hang in man; may Joy be yours.
Mart

Now Chris! Don’t be too hard on him and jump to conclusions.

Welcome Martin to my little nook of the woods. Interesting to hear you are Gay and Christian and have reconciled the two, as these days most Christian churches seem to be anything but welcoming to gays.

I’m a zen atheist, so I always enjoy discussing/contemplating religion and philosophy. With all the bible-thumping religious fundamentalists getting air time these days (both in D.C. and of course here locally in uber-conservative Texas), you can see why my friend Chris jumped to assume you were saying something along the lines of “be Christian and have a purpose to life or just waste it”.

I personally liked what you said, particularly if I make the assumption that you mean it to apply to whatever fulfills each person. For some, religious devotion gives their lives focus, meaning, and hope. For others it is a more personal philosphy outside of and/or intermingled with religion. For some it’s just living a good life and doing good to others through charitable work.

As I’ve explored Zen and my own outlook on life, I’ve found a good balance of things in moderation: I’ve learned to explore and pursue my interests unabashedly, but not be consumed by them. Spending time with my family and friends in the here and now is a priority for me. Listening to and remembering their stories, being supportive, and giving them good memories. Further, I try to help those I don’t know as well by being active in the community, doing volunteer work, etc. Collectively, I think those things are my ‘calling’. I’ve actually been meaning to make a post lately summarizing what I guess I’d call my world perspective/philosophy.

Whew…enough philosophy and stuff! So, how did you come across my blog? Do you have one of your own? Good to ‘meet’ you and I hope to hear back from you again.