More about the best weekend ever - it certainly was. Why? Because Samantha and I hung out with the coolest people ever - PineTree, Smurf, AttemptingThePath, and other cool guys. I now have about 8 new, wonderful friends! I miss them and can't wait until next year's conference. Yes, I'm going back!
Okay, SSA/SGA is not something I deal with directly. Sam has experienced it in her past, we have a young friend here locally ("David") that is dealing with it, and I have a man in my ward who is in a lot of deep, personal, mental, and emotional pain beccause of it. (I now have have about 8 more dear friends who are dealing with too.) So I want to learn more about it, and more importantly, how I can love, support, and help others who are dealing with it.
To me, the best speakers were Ty Mansfield and Fred & Marilyn Matis, authors of "In Quiet Desparation." I'd love to elaborate, but I do not have enough time or space. Just get the book and read it!
So now I have an assignment. I have to report to the other 11 bishoprics in my stake about SSA/SGA. What should I say? "Yeah, my wife and I went to SLC and played in the JSMB with some cool guys, had a LOT of fun, goofed around, then came home." Actually I did learn many things, but the highlight was just being with the guys (and Sam). If any of you have ANY advise or opinions about what bishops should learn or know about helping members who have SSA, please let me know.
Is "damnable" really a swear word? I'm sorry I missed that guy's workshop. I heard he was really good. Guys, if you're out there, please come visit us. Next time, maybe we'll play "Probe". Maybe Samantha and I will become the Fred & Marilyn Matis of the eastern Rockies. For now, here's to gellatinous pork! Cheers.
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5 comments:
Well... my bishop is excellent, never really said i was evil, he's just very quiet, our meeitings are usually 5 minutes long and then he sends me away saying i'm going a "great job" I think what I need from him is a little bit more counsel, as long as it's informed.
Ty sent me the quotes from the session that he did, if you want them, lemme know.
Bro. and Sis. Matis are amazing, infact they remind me a great deal of samantha and you.
it was great to meet you too, have a good one!
I had a wonderful time getting to know you too!!
I had only been a member for a year when I went to the Bishop. I was told that the weight of the world is supposed to melt away. All I knew at that time was that I was supposed to. I went to my Bishop's house one night and proceeded to tell him. To be honest, I was expecting the Bishop to Hug me and cry with me. His face was expressionless and it drove me crazy. The first thing he said was, "you can't go on a mission." I will never forget that as long as I live. The first few words will be remembered forever! He then told me that he was putting me on probation for 6 months and had to tell my stake president to see if my punisment was fair enough. He told me that I might be alone for the rest of my life and that I could never serve in church leadership because I had to be married.
That 6 month turned into a year. He totally forgot about me and used me. Even though I was not supposed to participate in church because of the probation, if the pianist was gone...he asked me to play. 7 months into my probation a friend that I had been talking to decided to get baptized. She asked the Bishop if I could baptize her. He sudden;y remembered me and said that I could use my Aaronic Preisthood. Ironic. Two months ago, my friend gave a talk about listening to the Spirit and doing what it says. My Bishops sudden;y remembered me again and said that the spirit told him that my probation was over. I laughed in his face and stood up and said,"I am through with You are your screwed up ward."
My bishop didn't care. he would rather me talk to someone else about these issue. I will never talk to another Bishop again. No man is going to have that much power in my life and I was stupid it let it go on so long.
Love to all......
I've told more than enough bishops, and the thing that's the most important, I think is that bishops realize that just because we admit to SSA, we're not raging sex-fiends. We're like anyone else, we just have a painful twist. Thanks for your blog, Darrin.
I wish I had gone. I will definitely be there next year. :)
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