Be Still and No Means No

  So many people I know and care about go to Church of the Highlands. In high school, I went to various events there and participated in Motion and Serve days. The thing I loved about this church was the instant group of friends I made. I texted with several members and hung out with them outside of church functions. I finally belonged. Or so I thought. I quickly realized this church wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. I lost my best friend that introduced me to this church. When I came out as gay, the distance between us grew bigger and bigger. After college, I was not invited to her wedding. A few months before her wedding, we sat at a coffee shop as she prayed over me as my grandmother was dying. I felt loved and cared for in that moment. Months later as other people found out I was not invited, someone that was one of her longest friends, they were hurt for me and knew exactly why I was not invited. The church taught her I was wrong. My love was wrong. The sad thing is she was no...