Story One- Reckless Love: Unconditional Love
By: Daniel Sherwood
I remember when I was young that me and my father playing catch and how everyone was happy. It was a time when love, understanding, and acceptance ruled the nation. It was a time when people had put aside their own personal beliefs and love each other as a human being. A time when people treated people like people. All that changed in an instant the past three years have been hell for anyone different than what the “leader’s” thought was ideal. It started off with the Muslim community, the fear of their religion, the fear of their culture.
It’s 2055 and nothing changed until the day that I came home from the Middle East. I had an encounter so powerful that it changed my life- it saved me from the darkness taking over me.
In order to fully understand me and the recent events that I have had to endured. I need to start at the point of when my world came crashing down all around me. I need to start the day that my parents ended their most beloved friendship because he was gay.
It was a warm summer day in July, it was mid- July. I was outside playing catch with my father, Adrian. My mother came outside- my father had just thrown the ball. My mother came out in tears and I can remember her telling my father that the friend of the family- Josh- had been fired because he was gay. Then I remember my father saying at how disappointed he was and I could see the anger and the hatred in his eyes. My father had used a lot of words that I am not going to repeat because of how dehumanize they are. And I should know because he used those same words when I came out.
I was six years old on that warm summer day in July. A six-year-old shouldn’t have to see what evil, hatred and bigotry looks like. They shouldn’t be exposed to a lot of things but they are.
Fast forward to my freshman year in high school, I started noticing that I was different than most of my friends. I was acting differently than them and I realize that I wasn’t attracted to girls like they were. That’s what scared me- it scared me because of my parents, because of their beliefs and the fact that they ended a life-long friendship with someone that was gay. That’s something that is always going to stay with me- it’s hard to explain to someone who doesn’t understand.
I was dating this girl named Allie- I wanted to hide who I was from my parents and this was the only way that I knew how. Don’t get me wrong Allie was a very attractive young woman- but I wasn’t attracted to her like I was with guys. My parents loved Allie- she was an amazing young woman of God that I honestly did- and still do love. But I knew that I couldn’t make it work. My parents love her- they had her over for dinner every chance that they got. We even went to church together.
One night in the summer after my freshman year in high school I had to tell her about me and who I was. We were out starring at the stars on the high school football field and she asked, “Tyler, please don’t be offended by me asking this. But are you gay?” In that moment, I was scared. I wanted to tell her that I was struggling and that I wanted to overcome this disease. I also wanted to tell her that I wanted tell my parents but that I was scared. Then something that I never thought possible in my world would happen- happened. “God loves you unconditionally and I love you.” I started to cry; I was flooded with emotion that I never thought possible. “Your parents should know- even if they will disown you.” She knew that I was scared to tell them.
She knew of that day when I was six-years old of how my parents reacted when their best and dearest friend came out to them. She knew how they cried and yelled and of how they cited bible verses after verse and shamed him. That infuriately hasn’t changed- Christianity is the one world religion now and it’s become dark and twisted. They’ve taken a beautiful faith and they’ve turned it into something that no one should be proud of.
“So, whatever happened to your parent’s friend?” Allie asked me. “I have no idea. I’ve heard rumors, but that is about it.” I replied. “Rumors?” Allie asked, she was curious. I could see that. “I heard that he went to a conversion camp and that he was able to become straight.” I told her. “Then there is another rumor that they killed him.” Silent. No one wanted to believe that here in America we would kill our own people. Here’s the thing that hurts the most- America got the idea from Russia.
In 2018 the Russian government had families kill their own loved ones that were gay. They called them “Honor” killings. In fact, there’s no honor in killing another human being at all. People never thought that it could reach this far. Here’s the thing though- hatred, bigotry reaches out further than people think. “Tonight, let’s go see what they do.” Allie was very curious. I however wasn’t. Christians in America, while against same-sex couples, didn’t go for the killings- not at first.
Keep in mind that this was after the Trump Administration was in the White House. Like I mentioned earlier- This whole thing started with the people of the Islamic faith. It started with the Muslim Ban- which thankfully never happened.
I was born in the year 2030 and the technology to know how someone will turn out was perfected- almost. So, yes, my parents knew that I would be gay and they still had me anyway hoping that they could love me and raise me to be someone else. That was becoming rare at that time where parents would keep their child knowing that they would be gay, bi, or anything other than who they wanted them to be. But after my freshman year in high school was when everything changed- some of it for the better- some of it for the worse.
Because of the events and my parent’s beliefs I started to grow apart from them. I didn’t share my achievements with them- didn’t give them details- well much details of what I was doing. It was like that for most of my high school years and my parents never gave much thought to me being gay until my final night in my parent’s home- I was finally eighteen years old and I finally had my own place where I could live my life and be who I was.
My parents decided to have Allie and me over for dinner one night and that’s the night that my parents disowned me….
“Mom, Dad, I have something that I need to tell you guys.” I spoke. My heart was beating faster than normal. Allie was right through, they needed to know. The weight of it on my heart and soul was not helping things. “Allie isn’t pregnant, is she?” my mother and father both asked. “No, that’s impossible since we’re only friends.” I spoke. “Then what else could it be?” My father just stared at me for the longest time. He was the first one to put it together. “So, are you seriously telling us that you’re gay?” he asked with no compassion in his voice. I swallowed, because the answer I would give would determine and affect the rest of my life. “Yes.” I don’t remember much after I said yes. I just know that I woke up in the hospital afterward.
“I’m sorry.” Allie had been crying. As hard as she tried to hide it. I could see it. “It breaks my heart to know that your parents are that hateful.” She started to cry again. “Don’t cry. This would’ve happened sooner or later.” I also remember that I want to see myself in the mirror. Allie tried her best to convince me that it wasn’t a good idea. My face was bad. My father had broken my jaw and my eyes were red. “I’ve begun to move you out of your parent’s house.” Allie told me. “You can’t stay there in that toxic environment.” I couldn’t argue with her, I knew she had a valid point.
That night in the hospital I had a dream, a vision if you will. It was my parent’s home and it was the night of the dinner. I heard Allie shouting “STOP IT!” and “YOU’RE GOING TO KILL HIM!” My mom was in tears- so she was useless. But something strange happened. As the images of that night replayed in my dream/vision I heard a voice telling me that I was loved. At first, I had let it rolled off my back because I didn’t believe in God- it wasn’t until later in life that I would change my mind about it. “I love you.” The voice kept saying and every time I would just ignore it.
It was a total of two weeks that I had spent in the hospital. On the night of my discharge- my parents showed up with the pastor of their church. That didn’t go over so well. “Why can’t you guys accept me for who I am?” I was hurt and I felt betrayed. “We love you, Tyler. But this, this abomination isn’t what God wants for you?” I starred at the Pastor with such intenseness. “So, I’m an abomination now?” I asked with contempt in my voice. “You are not, but the desire and how your brain works is.” The pastor answered.
“Question, God created the brain, right?” I asked, with some anger in my voice.
“Yes, He did. But when sin entered the world that all changed.” He replied.
“But God still created the brain in us.” I told him. “Yes, but Romans 12:2 says and be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” The pastor replied.
“Tell me, then Pastor. How can the church stand by as their Priest and Pastors rape girls and boys and condemn someone for being gay?” I shot back. He briefly paused. “I’m not excusing them- “
“But the church has turned its face away from that and feel the need to condemn the LGBTQ community.” I had interrupted him. “There are bad people who use Christianity for their own evil purpose and desires and they- in my eyes abuse God’s Grace.” Pastor answer back. “Just because God created the brain in us- doesn’t mean he put sin in us.” He paused briefly before saying that he would be back.
Outside my window of the hospital room, I could see the pastor talking to my parents. The disappointment that was on their face was enough to make me want to kill myself. My parents- who have a traditional belief system and who belief that marriage should be between a man and a woman. My mother crying because I wasn’t convinced that being gay was a sin- still am not convinced. After I came out and my parents said that I can be fixed- I researched the topic and there is no word in Hebrew for Homosexual. Man put that word in there- I’m getting off track.
I remember that a few weeks I was released from the hospital and as soon as I got home, I started packing my things. I kept hoping that my parents would change their mind and stop me but that was only a dream that was never to come true. There was a knock at my bedroom door.
“Come in. Its unlocked.” I spoke. Allie entered my room.
“Do you have a place to stay?” She asked. “No, but anything is better than this hell hole.” I didn’t look at Allie, I knew what she was thinking.
It took fifteen minutes to get the things that were most important to me and to get out. I left my bed, my furniture all behind. “You’re staying with me.” Allie said. “My parents and I talked about it.” I was speechless. I had a place, a warm place to sleep and eat. A place where I got be free to be myself, and truly myself, no hiding. “They know, and they just want you to be happy and safe.” She spoke.
I didn’t say anything to my parents. My father couldn’t even look at me. My mother was in tears. I had to be strong, my parents disowning me just because I was gay. I couldn’t believe it- my help for college- my future plans had burst into flames.
I got a job at a retail and a second job working overnights at a gas station on days that I didn’t work at my first job. Since my parents disowned me, I was considered an independent. I was able to get scholarships and loans to pay for school. I also had two jobs.
It was after Christmas, and I was in the process of locking up and going home one night when I was jumped by a group of “Christ followers” at my job. They had learned through my parents that I was gay and found out where I worked. The only other people that I told other than Allie where my parents.
I needed to confront them, but first thing first was to make sure that I survived the beat down. If these people really represent God, I want nothing to do with Him. I thought. What Kind of God would allow His followers to do this to another human being?
My thoughts kept going back to the night that I blacked out. What happened and why did Allie scream? I needed to know; I had to know.
Allie came and got me from the hospital. The timing of it was actually perfect. “Allie, what happened that night I blacked out and you screamed?” I asked. She didn’t want to tell me. “Allie, please tell me what happened that night I need to know.” I begged her. She took a huge sigh; “Your father drugged you.” She said. “They were told that it was a gift from God and that it would help you get rid of your homosexuality.” Anger build up inside of me. I was furious. My parents, the ones that are supposed to love me unconditionally drugged me.
“I’m going to go confront them.” I said, angerly. I stood up; Allie grabbed my arm. “NO!” she shouted. “They will report you to the government.” My heart sunk. My own family, reporting me to the self- righteous religious assholes in the White House. “What do you want me to do?” She walked over and sat down. “Continue your life and if they start to come around-” We both knew that my parents were not going to be coming around.
A couple of years passed and I was now in my final year of college and everything was set for me to graduate on time. I left my two jobs and went to work for a newspaper- so the days of me getting jumped were gone- or so I thought. I did my best to ignore people and they can spout all the hatred that they wanted to do, but sometimes it wasn’t enough. I never did confront the “Christ Followers” about that night either.
I had worked up the courage to invite my parents to my graduation, only to be met with “Don’t contact us again.” By my father, well ex father. I had a small, but supportive adoptive family. They were happy that I came along way and that I had overcome so much. I am now twenty-five years old and I made it through college. Graduation was two days away and I was happy.
It was three in the morning when I got that call. I grabbed my phone from the nightstand. Still sleepy I said. “Hello, this is-” I was cut off by Sarah. Sarah was another one of my friends that I met in my college years. “Tyler, this is Sarah. Jordan has passed away.” She told me. I sat up in my bed. “The news is reporting it as a car accident.” That was a lie, we both knew it. “That is a fucking lie.” I shouted. “Tyler, I am scared. There’s more going on than what we are being told.” Sarah confessed to me. “No shit!” I was angry, I was hurt and I was confused. “Tyler, what are we going to do?” Sarah was very scared and it showed. “What can we do?” I replied back. “The people in Washington D.C. don’t give a rats ass about us and they never will.” I paused, thinking.
Something inside me was changing and a light bulb went off in my head. “What if we protested and demanded answers?” I asked. “This close to graduation? Tyler have you hit your head?” Sarah shot back. “Let’s wait until after graduation and then we can go from there.” I said. If you protested while going to school, you would lose your degree. Stupid I know, especially since I paid for it. The reason for it was that back in the year 2020 the Black Lives Matter movement took the world by storm. We were able to get Donald Trump out of office and make him and his family a one term adminstration.
For a while things were going great. Until a Republican took office, yet again and from that point on things went downhill very quickly. The Black Lives Matter Movement was made to be a terror group and anyone caught supporting them lost everything. The year 2028 the “President” took what the founding fathers created and tore it all down.
Everything had started out just fine, a lot better than the 2016 elections and the aftermath that followed Trumps bad decisions and lies. Lies that killed well over ten thousand plus people. Let me tell you, people haven’t changed. 2028 people remained the same as they did in 2016 and 2020, they remained loyal to the “President”. Their rights weren’t been taken away, they didn’t care that is the difference between now and then- people cared in 2020.
Now people are starting to fight back, they are starting to wake up because their rights are being taken away now. People are starting to care, but we have to be smart about things and we have to be careful. We have to plan; we need to win at all cost.
Graduation day finally came. I stood, next in line, so excited to get my degree I’ve worked for this whole time. I have a new family, and a mom and dad that loves me for who I am and the amazing thing is they are Christian. “Tyler Roden.” I walked across the stage and the sense of accomplishment overtook me as I looked out and I saw my family. I saw Sarah, who graduated before me. That was going to be the last time that I would see them for a long time. I didn’t know what was about to happen. The person I would meet face to face would change my life forever and the better.
Two weeks after graduating I got my first full time job in my field. I also got my first assignment. My assignment is Middle East.
I pulled up to the military base and got out of the car. A General came out and greeted me. “Tyler Roden, I presume?” He said. “Yes, I am.” I replied back. “Great, follow me to the group of troops you will be following.” There was a brief pause. “Are you aware of the situation that is going on in the Middle East?” He asked. “Yes, I do. Political unrest, violence, supernatural signs.” I shot back. “People are saying that it’s the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.” I was led to a tent, a tent that had a war table in the middle.
“Sir, this is Tyler.” The General told him. “He is the reporter and he will be with the group of troops.” He said. “Tyler, there’s more at stake than just the supernatural signs and rumors.” The Captain noted.
“Okay?” I was confused. The Captain walked around the table with a tablet in his hands.
“No doubt that you’ve seen the news.” He said. “The protesters that were protesting going to war for peace in the Middle East, have disappeared.” There was a short pause. “We have reason to believe that the “President” is behind this. He’s taking a page from the Trump Administration, only he’s taking it a step further.” He said.
“What do you mean?” I asked him. “I mean that the “President” is actually becoming a dictator and is killing people that he views as the enemy of the people.” I was speechless. “So, am I to cover the supernatural or the President?’ I asked. “Both. The Christians have been saying for years and years that Jesus Christ is coming back.” I paused for a moment.
“You need to be aware of something as well.” One of the men said. “There’s bounties out on our military by Russia and the President doesn’t even care.” The captain said. “I know because I briefed him about it.”
