After my near death experience, I read a lot of books, went to seminars, and watched documentaries on anything that remotely resembled what I had experienced. I had a thirst for knowledge of spiritual things. In the end it took me over three years to integrate my near death experience into daily living. I had to learn how to live in the physical without becoming of the physical, not an easy task.
During this search for knowledge I attended a pre-seminar presentation on EST (Erhard Seminars Training.) My boss wanted me to see if the seminar might help his employees to work together better as a team.
I arrived barely in time and found an aisle seat close to the front just in time for the opening of the presentation. The presenter started by talking about the different communities represented in the room. Some of the ones he mentioned were the Medical community, the Business community, the Professional community, and others. I was a representative of the Medical community. Then he asked if anyone had been missed, would they hold up their hand. The person sitting next to me held up their hand, and when asked, stated they were a member of the Gay community. He acknowledged this person and several others before continuing. He then asked each person to turn to the one sitting next to them and introduce themselves, stating why they had come to the meeting.
When I turned, I saw a young girl wearing a black leather vest. The vest had two small chains holding it together over a red, sleeveless blouse. She also wore a red head band, and sported a tattoo on her arm of a naked woman. She could have been a biker, as I remembered, but turned out to be something totally different.
She quickly told me her name was Jill, and that she was a member of the Gay community. Her voice was soft and clear, with a command of words, showing me she was a well-educated young woman. She had attended the meeting to find some peace within herself. After I exchanged my particulars, the meeting was forgotten, and slowly faded away into the background as she answered a few of my questions.
She had known she was gay from as far back as she could remember. Attempts to ignore the emotions proved futile, however much she tried. She felt alone, isolated from others, with different feelings, emotions, and perception. I provided her with a non-judging person to talk to, and she poured out her heart, along with all the hurts of her young life.
She was 16 when her parents discovered she was gay and asked her to pack-up and leave. They wanted no part of a gay child. I can’t even imagine how that would feel, losing the emotional and financial support of your parents, just when you needed them the most. A friend took her in so she could finish school. Being an honor student her whole life, she knew the importance of learning. The conversation, in whispered words, was so revealing she was literally in tears as she recalled those hard years of her life.
She had worked part-time to help support herself during those years, and finally went to a culinary school and earned a culinary degree. She was currently working as a woman chef in an up-scale restaurant.
The Gay community was the only place she felt safe, as if she belonged to something. All she wanted was for others to accept her for what she was, the same thing most people want. I told her about near death experiences, and the love and acceptance God gives to all His children. It doesn’t matter who you are, or what you have done, you are loved for being you, nothing else is more important than God’s love for His children.
The meeting ended too soon, and people were getting up to leave. As we stood up Jill gave me a big hug, and thanked me. She was a young, frightened, little girl living in a world she couldn’t understand. Much like everyone else I have met, including myself. I can not tell you a thing about the meeting beyond the opening statements, but I felt refreshed, full of peace, and joy, and I know Jill felt the same way. It was an incredible evening.
Later, when I became a volunteer at a Hospice, listening to others became very important. I spent many an hour listening quietly to people talk about their lives, fortunes and misfortunes. It is a wonderful way to learn about life. Listen, non-judgmentally to others, and in the process you also will learn and be blessed.
There is no higher calling than to help others in their time of need. Be kind to everyone you meet, show compassion, and heal with your words. Keep the joy, and music of love in your heart, always.
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“Music does bring people together. It allows us to experience the same emotions. People everywhere are the same in heart and spirit. No matter what language we speak, what color we are, the form of our politics or the expression of our love and our faith, music proves: We are the same.” — John Denver
© 2009, Lekatt. All rights reserved.