Death is coming

The closer death creeps up upon me the less I am able to understand the reasons for life or living.

Yes I have experienced a close family member dying and unlike television it takes decades to handle such a thing. To think I am going to put my family through such a thing when I finally leave is more horrific to me than the thought of death itself.

My life was and is still a learning experience but when all said and done what am I to do with all this accumulated learning over my lifetime if I just die. There is no logic or reason to this.

Long ago I became aware that the God story that is sold to the majority is just a nice story to give mankind with a message of a basic layout of how nice life could be if everyone followed these ideas. Not many in life do and if one thinks about it the good and evil structures actually depend on each other. The good that can be experienced in life is only understood as good when there is it's opposite to compare it to. This is not rocket science only common sense in reality. I am not saying we need to experience bad but understanding in it is needed to appreciate the great things many of us can have in our lives. From birth to death there are many ways mankind helps his fellow man. How many ways can you help?


Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Gay Spirituality: On The Journey

By Howie Holben


Gay spirituality has been long sought and hard fought. Let's face it, a large percentage of us grew up in churches that condemned us. It is completely common to go through a strong questioning period where spiritual answers seem out of reach and you end up looking for some sort of confirmation. The problem is that there is no actual confirmation, but the journey is still well worth it.

Most of us started on our journey when we were young. Sometimes we didn't even realize that the words we heard cut so deeply because they were actually about us. Sometimes we did.

It is not surprising that a great number of individuals chose to go from their churches directly into movements and social causes. Small groups have formed that help to deal with the whiplash many were left with.

Fortunately, spiritual answers do not necessarily have to come from a church or a person of religious affiliation. Not all of us culminate our gay spirituality quest on the steps of a religious building. We've gone from the efforts of a few brave religious figures reaching out toward the community to what are now known as open and affirming churches.

It can be a painful road if you come from a religious background. You may have been subjected to prayer sessions that were supposed to "cure" you or religious studies that openly humiliated you. Thus, in today's GLBT community there are many who find spirituality solely within themselves.

You do not have to go to an organized church or even claim a religion in order to mark your spiritual journey. You are able to move through your questions and find your own answers whether it be through actual religious study or it becomes more of a silent quest along the beach. However you go about looking for your spiritual self you are simply not alone. The truth is that the GLBT community has been hit rather hard when it comes to spiritual acceptance, which is why it is important to understand what you want from your journey.

When you find that spiritual beliefs and religious beliefs don't actually stem from the same place, your spiritual journeys become lighter and more involved. We have sat in classrooms or listened to our parents as they taught us religion. We feel spirituality. We bring it forth from a place inside that is often fleeting for those of us who resist the idea. Embracing those moments brings your spirituality straight to the surface.

You can join the open and affirming churches and learn to grasp your gay spirituality if you choose. It can be a great place to debate and discuss. Or you can create your own gay spirit that offers you a reflective chance to decide for yourself. The journey simply never really has to end.




About the Author:



Gay Tour Ideas For Cape Town

By Howie Holben


Want to blend romance with the exotic adventures? Then give Cape Town, South Africa a visit. Cape Town needs to be on the list of anyone that wants gay vacations. With its wide variety of resources, you will not get bored. It is exotic, wild and civilized all at the some time. A great time away for both of you.

Bordered on the South by the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, and on the North by the towering 4,000 foot Table Mountain, Cape Town's horizons are anything but ordinary and in constant flux with the clouds rolling off the mountain's peaks defining the sky-scape randomly and dramatically. The perfect backdrop for an afternoon of lazing quietly on the beach, wrapped in a partner's never ending gaze.

If you're looking for the perfect romantic place to stay, book your nights at the incredible Glen Boutique Hotel. Given that this hotel is gay owned and operated, it's an exceptional choice for gay travel and you certainly won't be disappointed by the luxurious bedrooms and marble baths. As Cape Town's gay village booms, so do your options for renowned exotic culinary masterpieces -- such as Ulwimi (steamed Ox tongue in mustard sauce) at Marco's African Place -- or you might head on over to the jazzy Off Moroka Cafe Africaine to indulge in some traditional African fare.

There is plenty to do in Cape Town once you've rested long enough on the beach. Visit the wine country or museums, The Bo-Kapp Museum, District Six Museum and National Gallery should not be missed. And the nightlife in Cape Town is amazing! From little bars to major clubs, Cape Town has them all.

The Rhodes Memorial is built on the slopes of Devil's Peak. This memorial is in honor of Cecil Rhodes, a gay entrepreneur from Great Britain and founder of the Rhodes Scholarship and the DeBeers company. After you have done all this, it will be time to head back to the beaches again to rest up a bit so you're ready for the clubs again.

Did we mention the beaches? Do not miss the wonderful South African beaches. With all that Cape Town offers fantastic gay travel tours destinations, wildlife, beaches and nightlife, going to Cape Town is definitely well worth it; a vacation you won't soon forget.




About the Author: