Posted by:
SLDrone
(
)
Date: August 15, 2017 02:43PM
Greetings RfM! I know I’ve been long absent from the ranks, honestly because I didn’t have anything new to say. Recent events give me cause to ponder and once again to write.
ANGELS AMONG US (those who have ears to hear will understand)
As the news of his death spread, hundreds of friends in Hawaii mourned his loss in the most beautiful way. As his brothers and sisters flew to Hawaii from the mainland, the community of friends in Honolulu and surrounds began to organize a beautiful Hawaiian celebration of life. A few days later it was held under the ironwood trees of Waikiki. There was no pretense, only a humble celebration of life. As participants settled to the ground, a Hawaiian Kahuna led a spiritual prayer in traditional Hawaiian tongue, where he called on the gods of the 4 corners of the Earth and announced the arrival of a very special soul. His family was dressed in white as is the Hawaiian custom. His brother gave a heartfelt recounting of their childhood, a beautiful musical number sung by a women whom he had accompanied on occasion (he was a gifted pianist), and a graceful rendition of Hula meant to comfort him and fill his sails with cool Hawaiian breezes for the journey. At the end the participants (and there were many) walked from the grass down to the breakwater and as they sang Aloha-Oe (farewell to thee) they threw their beautiful leis of yellow flowers in the ocean and watched them float to sea. It was THE MOST spiritual and beautiful celebration I have ever witnessed. Of course I was mourning and I felt the loss deeply, but I was also reminded of a beautiful life and how fortunate I was to have ever known him.
A very good friend recently passed away. Someone that I love a great deal. He was one of the most “Christ like” people I’ve ever known. Always with a broad smile and a kind word. Never happier than when in the service of others, he sought out ways to serve those more in need than himself. He was not a wealthy man in terms of the World. But he left thousands behind that remember him with a broad smile and a grateful heart for having ever known him. He gave freely of his time, his love, and his support. AND he was gay. (it matters you’ll see why)
My friend was born on the Island of Oahu and spent the early years of his life there. He always considered it his home. At the age of 8 through family circumstances he was placed in foster care and then adopted by a Mormon family in Utah. (many of his family live in Utah) From that point he was raised LDS, served a mission at 19 and by all accounts he loved the Church at that time in his life.
Sometime shortly after his return from his mission, he decided to return to his roots and attend BYU Hawaii, and so back to the Islands he went, his heart had never left. During this time shortly after returning from his mission and now busy in college courses he came to accept that he was indeed gay. It was something that he’d fought and denied until then . He still loved the Church, but he finally felt the need to be true to himself too. He embraced his orientation with PRIDE and gusto just like he did everything else in his life. He volunteered for outreach programs; he organized support groups and a monthly pot luck dinner for an HIV support group. As with all other aspects of his life he searched for ways to serve. He was always willing to drop everything and give the shirt off his back to help someone.
Through this service he began to see the harm being done to his community by his Church. He went through some profound and painful years torn between his past and his present. Eventually (about the time of Prop 8) he’d had enough and he walked away from his former “faith”. He didn’t attack, he didn't argue with his family, he didn’t feel bitterness, none of that was in him, it wasn’t his nature.
He died of unknown causes. The medical examiner says there was no foul play and that it appears to have been a peaceful passing. No sign of drugs in his home, no known cause. Perhaps a toxicology report will reveal more, or perhaps it was just his time. He wasn’t quite 40 yet, still a young man.
A week or so after the Hawaiian celebration of life, his adopted family in Utah arranged for a customary LDS funeral. As can be expected there was a lot of diversity in the congregation, but it was Utah, his old Mormon neighborhood where he grew up, so the congregation of mostly LDS. His brother once again rose and recounted their childhood, although this retelling was a bit more muted and without some of the previous detail. Never the less it was heartfelt and good. Then his sister rose to sing “His Hands” and it was indeed beautiful, her voice was angelic as she struggled to maintain he composure. THEN things turned less comforting.
The “priesthood” took over with a succession of 3 speakers, none of them really talking much about my friend and instead using the time to espouse their various religious dogmas. It was impersonal and had nothing to do with the life of my friend, nor did it celebrate all that he had meant to so many of us. Finally after a half hour of dogma and superstition the Stake President as the “presiding authority” rose to inform us in a sickeningly sweet voice that “we” should not judge because Christ himself would judge my friend for the many “wrong choices” that he made. He referred to these “bad choices” several times. The implication of course being that being gay is a choice. It was the most backhanded slap in the face I think I’ve ever heard at a funeral. I know he was speaking to his “people”, but to the many of us that knew my friend, we knew that he was more a “man of Christ” than this speaker could ever hope to aspire too. I was offended, as were many who knew that in his backhanded way this man was passing judgement.
As I contemplated the day I began to feel sorry for these Mormons. They are so caught up in their dogmas that they just can’t help themselves but to judge and condemn. So obsessed with human sexuality that they miss the beauty that surrounds them. So afraid of diversity that they don't feel the depth of human love right in their midst. My friend would have and did love them anyway. He would have forgiven on the spot and would not have let the offense last long, because that is how true love works. His name was Kurtlund James Mooney, he was a brother of my heart and my soul and I will always love him. I miss him.
Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 08/15/2017 03:21PM by SLDrone.