Coming out is a courageous and spiritual act

Now that October 2011 has drawn to an end, I want to express my gratitude to
all the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people who were
inspired by the tradition of October being Coming Out month to come out
to themselves and those around them.

Coming out is a courageous and spiritual act
that benefits everyone in a ripple effect beyond all our horizons. I
want this meditation upon Coming Out — letting ourselves and the world
know truly who we are and how we understand ourselves — to be a tribute
to all those who gave us this gift of honest integrity this October
2011.

Coming out is a spiritual act. When I asked Rev. Scott Anderson what sustained him in stressful times he responded immediately
with the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11). After
the stone at the tomb has been rolled back, Jesus “cried with a loud
voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man came out, his hands and feet
bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said
to them, ‘Unbind him and let him go (John 11:43-44).’” Scott shared that
his coming out felt as life-giving as that. It felt like resurrection
to him.