As I have matured as a man, I believe more than ever that a lustful...

As I have matured as a man, I believe more than ever that a lustful culture is the antithesis of a loving community. I have found personally, what I allow to consume my thoughts shapes my character and my being. Lust takes without consent, it is arrogant, it assumes its way of life is everyone’s way of life. It values self pleasure and idolization above all else. It is never satisfied. It is contagious and lies with its intentions. I can feel this atmosphere shift, heavy, when entering some queer communities. Love, is kind, it never judges, it opens space for you to come as you are. It is curious, and sees the value of the person within. It does not easily assume and takes care of its own responsibilities and actions regarding itself and others. It is direct clear and open regarding its intentions. I see a divide in our community, those embodying lust and the coldness that comes with it the treatment of others and themselves and the rising warmth and vulnerability of those erecting boundaries as they refuse to conform to this standard. I have experienced both sides of the spectrum myself and can confirm the balanced latter is overwhelmingly better.

arcashade

Officially 34 years old, I celebrate this year remembering the decisions I made to choose God, the countless times I have sat alone at restaurants, have had few friends, have worked in silence to invest in my career. I have lived a lifetime of shrinking myself around those I do not respect in order to have community and these pat few years I realized I love and respect myself too much to dim myself anymore. To the 420 full moons that have passed over my life. To what I will create, to what I will build, to my bright future and all the love I wish to spread to the world. Watch out 😉

jont

❤️

1 month

aranha

💯 agree!!! Unfortunately we are a minority in this and other apps… It’s all pretty empty, so we just get a real life (a loving one), and just leave it all behind, because happiness will always overcome lust, and lust will just use you.

jrchillen

I don’t get how gays can be religious. Why would you follow a belief system that wants you dead?

Assuming you’re referring to Christianity. Jesus was killed by the same belief system, love is the true belief and the system is what has corrupted that. Connection with God that is taught as being obtained separate from love is corrupt and false. That is a common system in our society. Gayness is natural, and to love someone is beautiful.

justmel

This really resonates with me. I think social media and the media in general have normalized lust and instant gratification so much that genuine connection almost feels foreign sometimes. Everything is so heavily focused on appearance, sex, and what someone can offer you physically that it can be easy to forget there’s an actual person underneath it all. I really appreciate what you said about love being curious, intentional, and making space for vulnerability. I think we could use more of that.

casbahmike

Well put.

@jrchillen That’s not a fair statement, at all. You are judging whole faith traditions by their most radical elements. Jesus never said anything about homosexuality and all those verses haters love to quote are Old Testament. Judaism,Islam, Hinduism and others all have movements that celebrate same-sex love.

@justmel I’m happy this resonated with you. How do you navigate the lack of genuine connection? Do you feel the extreme in our gay culture has made you swing the extreme opposite like just cutting off those people, not entering queer spaces?

4 weeks