A Shy Man in the Company of Strangers

I often refer to myself as one not comfortable being in the spot light. Many who know me would tell you that I am quite out spoken. That when I speak, I have very passionate and strong held beliefs. So it might come as a surprise to those who have this view of me, that it is not natural or come easy for me to speak out. Put another way speak in public.

The reason I have written on this subject on my blog is that this is really true when it comes to my Christian voice.

It was 5 years ago when my Pastor came and asks me to read scripture during our church services. On the Sundays that I was to read I would go to the church on the Monday before I was to read and request the portion of scripture I would be reading. I would spend the week readings the scriptures. I would wait till my family went to bed, and read out loud the verses. By Sunday I was ready to stand in church.

From the first time I read the scriptures in church, members of my church would come up and tell me how they liked it when I read because the could understand the verses better when I read. I was told that I spoke slow and clear.

I don’t think I ever told anyone other than my pastor that I was scared to death even after two years of doing the readings. My wife would see me ring my hands just before I would read. She ask me one day why I did that, I had to tell her that when I get nervous the palms of my hands would be wet  it was my futile attempt at trying to dry them.

There is one attribute of being A Shy Man in the Company of Strangers that I do think can be good. Cautious thinking, when used properly can keep you from speaking first then thinking later.

My public face as I call it has served me well in most areas of my life. When around people I know I seem some what normal. My life has changed now and I know I must use my voice to serve my God. To do this I must change a bit. It is hard to share the word of God and be A Shy Man in the Company of Strangers.

A Bitter Sweet Victory for Enid OK.

Tonight I went to our City Council Meeting. On the agenda was a proposed change to the city ordinance with regards to giving protective group status to gay and lesbians.

With a room full of people when the time came for the discussion on the proposal one of the members made a motion to suspend debate and go to a vote without public comment.

While under the rules this is allowed, it left most in attendance feeling bitter. I was told after the meeting that the member who made the motion knew that he had the votes and wanted to keep the potential emotions of the group from getting worked up given that he knew the outcome of the vote.

The proposed change was defeated in a vote of 4 against to 3 in favor the change. In a standing ovation most all in attendance were happy for the outcome.

So why do I feel it was bitter sweet? With the vote so close it is sure to be brought up again. A good many people turned out tonight to let there voices be heard. So while the outcome was what I personally wanted, what was lost was no public record was made.

The proposal in a nut shell was to bring our city code in line with the State and Federal government. Here is the problem, have you ever really felt that you could contact your state or federal government representative and really be heard. It is said all politics are local. This issue was personal for a lot of people tonight.

I have an idea!  Let’s have our city affirm what we believe. Let them vote to shout to the world what we believe. It would go something like this.

Be it known by all men that the City of Enid affirms that our city respects to basic rights of all who wish to work for our City. That no Person, be them male or female, no matter by what name they call God, ethnic origin, be them handicapped or healed shall be discriminated against.  We will lift no Group higher then the other, or allow anyone to be put down, for when we do this the blessing of opportunity will be available to all.

My hope and my prayer tonight is that we will not follow other cities and towns that have allowed there communities to be divided. We will stand up for all our citizens in unity, not division, that the people of Enid don’t need a law change to do Good, lift one another up, we just need to be who we are.

As for me and my family will serve the Lord, and all will know we are Christians by our love. If we can do this the world will be changed, let us start here in Enid.