It has been fifteen years since that horrible night in October 1998. Many around the country, even throughout the world remember when this happened. Maybe you do as well.
It happened on either the evening of October 6 or 7, 1998, a young man named Matthew Shepard met Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson at the Fireside Lounge in Laramie, Wyoming. McKinney and Henderson decided to give Shepard a ride home; however, they drove the car to a remote, rural area and proceeded to rob, pistol-whip, and torture Shepard, tying him to a fence and leaving him to die. He was discovered covered in blood and in a coma eighteen hours later by a passing cyclist who initially mistook him for a scarecrow. Matthew Shepard died at the hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado on October 12 from severe head injuries.
Matthew Wayne Shepard was a student at the University of Wyoming. He was a gay young adult. And he was dead at the age of 22.
It was a sad tragedy to hear then and even still to recount now fifteen years later of how this young man’s life ended because of the hatred and intolerance of others. It is unimaginable what this young man went through on that night. We can only but pray for his peace now.
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Growing up, I often heard the saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” Remember hearing that? That saying would be given to me directly when I experienced bullying at school. I was frequently the target of school bullies. It was quite frightening, if you know what I mean. Often rather than dealing with the perpetrators directly, the victims like me were told to chin up and to remember that “sticks and stones may break our bones, but names will never hurt you.” I must admit it was never really that much comfort.
The real problem is that those who are calling out those horrible and nasty names often have with them the sticks and stones and seek to seriously hurt those individuals they taunt. Hatred of others all too often goes beyond name calling and moves into physical violence. And that hatred can be generated by anything someone finds threatening or unacceptable to them. It may because of the color of their skin, it may be their nationality, it may be their faith and it may be because they are gay or lesbian.
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I reject violence in whatever form it may come in. And I will not stand for violence against any person for any reason. I would like to think we are on the same page with that. To call someone who in one’s mind is different derogatory names or to abuse them emotionally or physically is unacceptable.
Or to abuse them spiritually, I believe is equally as bad. For far too long the institution church has done serious spiritual harm to individuals who are gay and lesbian by shutting the church door on them. Rather than extending the unconditional love and grace of Jesus Christ, the church has more often than not leveled condemnation and judgment against our gay brothers and lesbian sisters.
For me, I believe everyone (and I mean everyone) has a place around God's Table.
Remembering the tragic story of Matthew Shepard reminds me and I hope it reminds others that we must strive to be a society with open minds and open hearts and stand against bullying, hatred and violence. Those three are interrelated.
You may be someone who knows of a story of bullying. Maybe it happened in your life or it may have happened in the life of one of your children or friends. You may know firsthand the realities of how bullying, hatred and violence are connected.
And maybe there are people out in the world we simple do not understand. Maybe there are differences that make us stop and scratch our head. There may be differences that at first glance even offend us. But let us not, in a knee jerk reaction build up a wall between them and us. Rather, let us be bold and compassionate and reach out to better understand one another. Let us strive to be a people free from hatred and violence. Let us be a compassionate people because no one deserves to be abducted, tortured and left to die simply because they are who they are.
I happen to believe in prayer. I pray for any person who is experiencing bullying in their life. Especially I pray for our children and youth who are vulnerable to bullying at school. I also pray for the bullies, the very ones who are name-calling, taunting, teasing and harrassing that their eyes may be opened to see exactly what they are really doing. I pray for our society as a whole to promote love, acceptance and tolerance. And I pray for the souls of Matthew Shepard and all who have died at the hands of hatred.
My friends, I hope you will pray with me.
I trust you too want a community and a world free from violence.
If you would ever like to talk about this or anything else, I am always available to get together. Just email me at JonEdwin@aol.com. I would enjoy meeting you.
Blessings,
Pastor John
Sunday Worship
9AM --- 30 minute service with Holy Communion celebrated weekly
10:30AM ---celebrating Holy Communion the first Sunday of the month.
(Child Care provided during the 10:30 AM service)
9:30AM – Sunday School for Elementary Age Children
5PM – United Methodist Youth Fellowship
This Church’s Hearts, Minds and Doors are always open.
