Mondays and Milestones
It was a busy weekend, and it’s shaping up to be a busy week ahead. Saturday was spent watching college football (Roll Tide!), and yesterday I went clothes shopping. That may not sound like much, but for me, it was a little milestone.
I haven’t really talked about this here, but I’ve lost some weight. My clothes just don’t fit the same anymore, and shopping has become a necessity. I don’t often bring up my weight because in the past it has sometimes led to rude comments or unsolicited advice. The truth is, I’ve struggled with my weight my whole life. Now, for the first time, I’m no longer overweight. I still have a way to go before I’m fully happy with my body, and with my back issues, I haven’t been able to get to the gym the way I’d like. Hopefully, that will change soon.
Yesterday’s shopping trip also meant a lot of walking—something I haven’t been able to do in months. By the time I got home, my body was completely exhausted. I used to love shopping, and if I only need to go to one store, I still enjoy it some. But going to half a dozen crowded stores is more than I can handle these days. Still, it was worth it to find clothes that fit and look nice for the events ahead.
As for this week, today is just a regular Monday at work—and Mondays are never fun. The bigger push comes later in the week with events Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. That’s part of why I needed those new clothes. I like to dress nicely anyway, but as the public face of the museum, I feel like it’s even more important to look put-together. First impressions matter, and I want to give a good one not just for myself, but for the museum as well.
It’s also a big week for my back. On Wednesday, I go in for an MRI of my lower back. I’ve been feeling much improved, so I’m hoping that the prognosis will be good. Between that and the long hours later in the week, it’s going to be a full schedule. Thankfully, I have tomorrow off as a bit of breathing room.
Here’s to a good week ahead—for all of us.
The picture above is not me, but like him I also need some new shoes—though that might not happen this week.
One Body, One Family
“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”
— Romans 12:4–5
“So now you are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.”
— Ephesians 2:19
One of the hardest things about being LGBTQ+ is that so many of us have been made to feel like outsiders. Sometimes it’s been in our families, sometimes in our communities, and too often in our churches. That kind of rejection leaves scars. But when I read passages like these, I’m reminded that God doesn’t see us as strangers, outsiders, or “less than.” God sees us as part of the body, part of the family.
Romans 12 reminds us that the church is like a body—different members, different roles, but all working together. No part is useless, no part can say, “I don’t need you.” That means you, just as you are, bring something vital to the body of Christ. And Ephesians takes it a step further: we’re not just loosely connected, we’re family. Full citizens of God’s household. Not guests. Not outsiders. Family.
This is Christianity’s greatest strength—that people of every background, identity, and story are drawn together by God’s love into one body, one family. When LGBTQ+ people are excluded, that strength is weakened, because the body is not whole. Our gifts, our voices, our joy, and even our struggles are part of what makes the body of Christ stronger, more compassionate, and more complete.
That’s powerful when you’ve ever been told otherwise. 1 John 3:1 tells us, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” It doesn’t say some of us. It doesn’t say only the ones who fit a certain mold. It says we are God’s children, and that includes LGBTQ+ folks too.
Galatians 3:28 reminds us that all the old dividing lines—Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female—don’t hold sway in Christ. “You are all one in Christ Jesus.” For us today, that verse could just as easily say: gay or straight, trans or cis, single or married—you are all one in Christ Jesus.
And here’s the other side of it: when one of us hurts, the whole body hurts. 1 Corinthians 12:26 says, “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” So when LGBTQ+ people are rejected or mistreated, it isn’t just our pain—it’s the church’s pain. And when we live openly, joyfully, and authentically in God’s love, that joy is a gift that strengthens the whole body.
The Bible is also full of reminders that God takes what the world rejects and turns it into something essential. Psalm 118:22 says: “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” And Jesus echoed this in Matthew 21:42: “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?” For anyone who’s ever felt pushed aside, those verses are a lifeline. What others reject, God makes foundational.
And so we’re called to do the same. Romans 15:7 tells us, “Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” That’s not a half-hearted welcome, not a “you can sit here, but stay quiet.” It’s a full, Christlike welcome that says: you belong, you matter, and we’re not whole without you.
Where do you most need to hear the reminder that you belong today? What unique gift or story do you bring that helps the body of Christ be more whole?
Moment of Zen: Tanlines
There’s just something about tanlines—those sharp contrasts etched by a summer of sun. Now that summer is over, the lines remain, like a secret reminder of long days, warm nights, and skin that still carries the memory of light. Sometimes what’s hidden makes the revealed all the more irresistible.
TGIWFHF*
It’s finally Friday, and I couldn’t be more thankful. Not only is it the end of the week, but it’s also my work from home day. That makes such a difference. No commute, no rushing out the door, no bracing myself for whatever mood my boss might be in. Instead, I can ease into the day with a little less stress, work from the comfort of home, and hopefully keep my migraine at bay. After the week I’ve had, that feels like a blessing.
I always look forward to Fridays, but this one feels especially good because I know what’s coming up next week. The first half should 🤞be relatively calm—Monday is shaping up to be quiet, and Tuesday I’m off. But Wednesday brings my MRI for my back, which I’m both anxious about and ready to get over with. Then the second half of the week kicks into high gear. Thursday through Saturday I’ll be working and participating in events for the museum. It’s going to be a lot to juggle, and I already know it’s going to take a lot out of me.
That’s why today feels even more important. I need this chance to breathe, to regroup, and to prepare myself for what’s ahead. Fridays at home are a reminder that little breaks like this can make a world of difference when life gets hectic. I’ll take the peace while I can get it.
I hope everyone has a great Friday and an even better weekend.
* Thank God It’s Work From Home Friday
I almost forgot my Isabella Pic of the Week. I took this right after I wrote today’s post. She will likely be this way for at least 2-3 hours before she stretches, rotates a quarter turn, and goes back to sleep.
Reflections and Remembrance
I’m not going to dwell on politics or my health today—just two quick statements on both.
First, politics. I don’t think political violence should ever happen in the United States or anywhere else. Sadly, it happens far too often as it is, though thankfully, more often than not, it’s unsuccessful (and sometimes staged—ears just don’t grow back). The United States is gripped with a political fervor that seems rooted in hate, violence, cruelty, and greed. What’s most troubling is that most of the political violence, both successful and unsuccessful, has been against those who themselves have not been calling for it. Infer what you want from what I’ve said.
While I’m not going to change what I wrote above, I think it came off as more offensive than it should have. I do not meant to blame a victim for what happened, but I firmly believe that rhetoric from the far left and the far right have caused this extreme polarization that is tearing apart our democracy. Charlie Kirk, no matter how awful the things he might have said were, he did not deserve to be murdered. Also, the conspiracy theory part, while it is my belief that it was at least portrayed much worse than it was for political gain, whatever else was behind it is not known.
Second, health. My Botox seemed to go really well yesterday. I liked the new provider I saw. We talked about how the treatment usually wears off for me around week ten of the twelve-week cycle. She’s going to try to convince my insurance to allow for treatments every ten weeks instead of every twelve. The woman who does scheduling for the Headache Clinic even set up my next two appointments with dates for both possibilities—ten weeks if it’s approved, twelve weeks if it’s not. That way I’ll have an appointment either way. Like my previous provider, she said if there’s ever a problem getting me in on time, to have them talk to her and she’ll adjust things to make sure it happens.
So, those weren’t exactly “two quick statements,” but I’ve said what I wanted to say on both topics.
On this day especially, I want to pause in remembrance of September 11. I think nearly all of us—maybe even all of us—remember where we were when we first heard the news. The confusion, and then the horrifying realization of what had actually happened, is something we’ll never forget. It’s been more than two decades, yet the memory of that morning—the shock, the grief, the uncertainty—still lingers deeply for so many of us. We remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost, the countless families forever changed, and the first responders who ran toward danger with courage and selflessness. We remember too how, in the days that followed, communities came together in ways that reminded us of our shared humanity and resilience. And it’s that spirit of unity, compassion, and strength that we especially need in today’s world.
May we all carry that spirit with us, today and always.
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The Closet Professor 