by surprisedbyjoy@yahoo.com

John is the beloved disciple "whom Jesus loved" (John 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7, 20, 24). He wrote as a Jewish man in the ancient middle east as one who was totally in love with Jesus as his soul friend. John teaches us how to be a soul friend. When the others betrayed, deserted, denied and perverted justice, only the beloved disciple actively tried to intervene and protect his dear friend and spiritual mentor. Only he stood at the cross with the women. Only he was entrusted by Christ with his dying words to care for his mother Mary. John teaches us about friendship, courage, vibrant spirituality, loyalty, love, commitment and how to live in a family of choice. John’s gospel is a special love letter describing the one he loved above all others.

He was deeply influenced as an orthodox Jewish man by the biblical stories of faith and love which included Ruth and Naomi, as well as David and Jonathan. He understood God honors same-sex families of choice, as well as biological families.

If you have never read the gospel of John, it can be used for your personal prayer empowerment through imaging yourselves in scripture, using centering words and symbols for breath prayers while lingering with God. John teaches us about authentic spirituality with the most non-homophobic spiritual leader in world history. After reading the gospel of John, consider reading his other letters known as 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd John. He writes about two great Biblical truths. God is light and God is love. After reading these letters, consider reading his final book in the Bible. This is the book of Revelation which many find very difficult to understand. Yet if it is read care-fully and prayer-fully, after reading John’s gospel and epistles, it can be a powerful and beautiful spiritual experience. It can be a marvelous worship experience.

There are many spiritually empowering ways to read this beloved love letter. Many read a few words a day for soul food and soul care. Perhaps a word or phrase may cause you linger and savor the spiritual meaning in your life. Many have found themselves imaging themselves in these beloved stories. Perhaps one identifies with closeted Nicodemus, the wild and wonderful Samaritan woman and the blind son rejected by his biological family. As you read, enjoy your imagination and be the character in the story. Imagine your words to Jesus and others. Smell the smells. Feel the crowds. Consider journal writing your personal experience in conversation with God about what this experience means for you. It will be a source of great blessing. A simple lighting of a candle, a quiet corner for reading, a time and place for spiritual reading without beepers, faxes and cell phones all enhance the Presence of the Holy.

The beloved disciple John was influenced by the Biblical story of Ruth and Naomi in his same-sex friendship with Jesus. The book of Ruth is only 4 chapters and is a beautiful story of kindness, love and loyalty during an ancient national time of spiritual regression with periods of revival. It occurs during a time of great corruption, weak faith and irresponsible conduct as well as a time of bloody, civil strife. Ruth possibly was written during the time of King David, Solomon, or the prophet Samuel. This love story shows God at work in the darkest of times. The repetitive theme in the book of Judges is restated in Jud. 21:25: "In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit."

This beautiful story is about two women deeply committed to each other’s welfare against the odds for survival. From it we get some of the most famous and beloved words used in holy unions. Many are surprised when they learn they are spoken between two women. Ruth’s words still echo through the centuries: "Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go, I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me" (Ruth 1: 16-17).

The book of Ruth is a contrast of responsible behavior in irresponsible times, with faith in God who is always in control. Ruth’s family history includes Sodom and Gomorrah. When Lot fled for his life with his wife and daughters, his wife turned back for one last look and was turned into a pillar of salt. In an attempt to survive, his daughters got Lot drunk and had deliberate sex with him to become pregnant. Their children included Moab and this is Ruth’s biological family background.

Ruth gives us several profound names for God which we can use for our spiritual empowerment in prayer. "LORD" (Yahweh) is used 17 times, "God" (Elohim) 3 times and "Almighty" (Sadday) twice. God’s activity is mentioned 8 times (1:13, 20-21; 2:20; 4:12, 14). Prayers are found as real people with real needs in real life (1:8, 9; 2:12; 4:11,12). Commitment is seen in responsible relationships (1:17; 3:13). Various forms of the word "redeem," "redeemer," "redemption" and "kinsman-redeemer" are used 20 times. Redemption is a major theme in the book. In the New Testament Christ is called our redeemer.

The story teaches us how to bless one another with spoken words of high value, meaningful touch and commitment to see the blessing fulfilled (2:4, 19, 20; 3:10). Another key word in Ruth is chesed. Chesed is one of the most beautiful words in the bible. Chesed means God’s loyal love and kindness towards us. We are to share chesed to others as we share kindness, love and loyalty in our community. Chesed is found in verses 1:8; 2:20; 3:10.

It is easy to read Ruth again and again. All sexual orientations can be blessed through imaging ourselves in this lovely story and meditating on the profound words of commitment, love and loyalty. Consider writing blessings for yourself and those you love from the blessings found in this love story. Another experience is rewriting the prayers for help found in these four chapters. By rewriting prayers in our own words, we find ourselves in new conversations and awareness of God’s loving Presence in our lives. Where are you in this love story? Where is God in your life? What does it mean to be a soul friend in a Ruth and Naomi relationship? Considering a holy union? Perhaps Ruth’s words of commitment might be appropriate. Or perhaps you are in a relationship where the love and commitment are gone. Lingering with Ruth may offer some profound and life changing insights for your relationship. Journal writing the answers to these questions are spiritually empowering. Consider centering prayer with one of the Sacred names used by Ruth. Or use another for your spiritual empowerment.

This tragic love story is scattered through the Biblical pages and is found in several books (1 Samuel 13:16; chapters 13 & 14; 18:1-4; chapters 19-20; 23:16-18; chapter 31; 2 Samuel 1 and 1 Chronicles 8:33). Jonathan was the son of the ancient king Saul. Jonathan is known for a number of things. He was a valiant warrior and loved his father. He and his father actually died together in battle.

But Jonathan is most famous for his head over heels deep and passionate love for David. Truly, Jonathan gives us a picture of love at first sight. His father was jealous and uncomfortable with the relationship. Saul had plans for Jonathan and David was competition to both a father’s affection and ambitions for his firstborn son. Saul’s personal and professional life models how people make significant mistakes and then try to cover them up. Saul also had what seemed to be enormous mental instability as he tried to hold on to his power and prestige.

But the biblical story tells us that David was God’s replacement as king. Jonathan willingly, gladly, joyously gave up his personal ambitions for the throne to help his beloved David. They loved each other in a love that surpassed traditional feelings for women. A number of scholars speculate on their human sexuality. Was Jonathan gay? Could David be bisexual? Or were they simply platonic friends? We will never know for certain. Yet the ambiguity helps all sexual orientations find a place at God’s table through their wonderful love story. There is no homophobia between David and Jonathan. There is some from Saul as a disapproving parent. This drama shows the battle between family of choice and family of biological origins. Love has always existed between same-sex friends. God is completely non-homophobic and we have much to learn and reclaim through these two soul friends. David and Jonathan deeply influenced the disciple John and his beloved Jesus.

The bible tells us Jonathan "became one in spirit with David and he loved him as himself. (1 Sam. 18:1). When Saul tried to kill David, "Jonathan was very fond of David and warned him" (1 Sam. 19:1-2). When David had to flee for his life, he and Jonathan "kissed each other and wept together, but David wept the most" (1 Sam. 20:41). When Jonathan and Saul died, David’s grief was profound and teaches us about healthy grief and deep same-sex love and friendship. "I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother; you were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women" (2 Sam. 1:26).

David wrote many of the Psalms which are profound prayers of the heart for all of life’s emotions. There are 150 Psalms. Linger with them, savor the words, learn how to pray with real feelings, through body prayer, with a word, a phrase, a sentence and entire pages of prayers written by a man after God’s heart who was not afraid to love a same-sex friend. These are spiritually empowering. Psalm 23 is the most famous and beloved Psalm written by David. The beloved disciple John was deeply influenced by the Psalms in his prayer life and used Psalm 23 to describe Christ as the good shepherd.

Reading this tragic love story and meditating on the words of commitment and love are empowering for all of us who experience rejection by a parent. David teaches us a great deal about healthy love, passion, commitment and heart felt grief. Perhaps these words may comfort us when we grieve the death of our loved ones, when we struggle with families of origin lack of acceptance for those we love.

David’s story models soul friendship and vibrant spirituality for us. Consider sitting with him and journal writing your experience as he and Jonathan love each other. Consider reading all the Psalms for prayer helps. God bless you in your reading, loving and praying. May you be "surprised by joy."

The author of this material is "Surprised by Joy" (surprisedbyjoy@yahoo.com). "Surprised by Joy" is an ordained UFMCC Christian minister who discovered that God is wonder-full to be with. It is our hope and prayer at soulfoodministry.org that all visitors will experience the tenderloving- kindness of God and receive spiritual food for their journey.