Lars Clausen's Straight Into Gay America - Get the book here!

After reading Lars Clausen's Page-A-Day for today (see below),
here was my response back to him:

Dear Lars:

I just wanted to write and tell you how much I am enjoying your page a day. I love what you are writing... and can so relate. Your words about God, Jesus, and the church resonate with me, even though my own church experience was quite positive up until I decided to stop lying, that is. For 18 years, however, all was well... but I was dying a slow death from the drip-drip-drip of deception in my life.

Today, not being a regular churchgoer, and making a conscious choice to not be a member of an organized religious group anymore, but feeling myself to be a spiritual person, I continue to question, wrestle and contemplate what this is all about, and what place does God/Jesus have in my life, and why do I feel the need to acknowledge or justify my belief... or lack thereof?

Most days I just rest in knowing that there is only fear or love, and I can't live in both simultaneously... so which am I going to choose? I continue to read, listen, and ask questions about God, because I am so curious and my new lenses bring up so many new questions for me. I'd like answers, but nobody has them. So I just rest in knowing there is good and there is love... and all is well.

Looking forward to seeing you in Colorado Springs!

Love, Roby

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Straight Into Gay America: A-Page-A-Day: The Entire Book Free:One Page at a Time Get The Whole Book All At Once: Secure Ordering via Blooming Twig Books More about the Journey: StraightIntoGayAmerica.Com Daily Encouragement for Equal Rights. Yes - Please Forward!

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Introduction - Page 16-17

"All true," concedes Poetry Man, "but you didn't ride just to argue a point about equal rights." He looks at feeble lines I've written about my time as a pastor. "There's a whole book in why you traded your robes for a unicycle. And you don't have a word of it written."

"That's not the book I'm writing." I say the words loud, as if force will give them credence.

Poetry Man confronts me now.
"You didn't leave the church to argue
a point. You left when you were
desperate. You didn't ride

your tour just to do a good deed.
What about not believing in God
anymore? You've talked to me
about this. Where's that in this writing?"

"That's not the book I'm writing." I repeat the words, this time without strength, "I wanted to be a reporter, share what I saw, help gay rights."

You watch Public Television instead of FOX news
and everyone knows the reporters have a viewpoint.
You have one, too. You choose
what you watch.

You're a pastor.
You don't believe in God,
and you're not going to report that?
Who. What. When. Why. Where. And how.

All reporting comes through the story of your own life.
You're scared. You think you're doing
something big. Right now it's small.
It's a cover-up of you.

Your ride could still save you.

Poetry Man picks up the 74,000 words of my manuscript draft, and places them back in my lap. He makes no sound. I look at the pile of pages, knowing I have to go back through each line. Is there anything in here worthy of a truck-crash dying hour? For a long time we sit on Jim's couch, the pages resting on my knees. At last I look up at this Poetry Man, searching his face.
He tells me, "You don't have to do this, you know."

Another few minutes pass before I finally speak. "All last summer when I rode, I kept meeting people who faced the choice of living their life or living in a closet. Maybe while I toured for equal rights I was touring to find my own voice, and unlock my own closet."

Poetry Man answers, this time more gently. "Let's see your story."

Blessings for the day.
Lars Clausen