Just when I thought her 15 minutes were up, BAM! There she was again, occupying headlines like a child crying for attention.

Who uses a once-in-a-lifetime meeting with the pope to get attention and airtime? An opportunist, that’s who.

I don’t know what kind of soap she believes cleansed her soul and is trying to sell, but the box is empty and upside down. Someone told her she smells good and now she’s standing on it. It won’t be long before that poor box busts into bits under the weight of  all of God’s work she thinks she needs to do.

Lady, please step down. God can do His own work.

I won’t type her name. Her name doesn’t matter. She doesn’t matter to me.

She’s a figurehead, by default, holding a megaphone. The minute she stepped out of prison, her puppeteers gave her a hug and attached the harness. They are pulling her strings and keeping her in the headlines while trying to capitalize on the business of hate and business is good.

All that nonsense about her meeting the pope was thrown out there this week without one good intention. It was selfish, vindictive, and divisive. Her team are master manipulators and they love hate. Hating her only fuels the fire, extending her reach, and keeps them paid. She’s so busy basking in the spotlight that she doesn’t feel their fangs in her neck.

I refuse to click on headlines with her name anymore. I won’t engage with those stories. I won’t be part of encouraging them. I have no interest in either the lost battle, or the minority she represents. If nobody clicked, her voice would be gone.

I don’t hate her, but I think she is dangerous. She twists and bends her religion, like Play-Doh, into a mold where she’s above the law, right, and a victim, all while carrying a personal list of sins a mile long. Sound familiar? That’s because she’s not the first and she won’t be the last.

She’s not worth my time. She’s not worth yours either. She is in my rearview mirror where she looks good right next to other garbage I need to forget about. 

She and Huckabee can go be righteous together and discuss their vengeful God ad nauseam. That is, until they stop talking to one another once neither of them have anything left to gain from each other. She has already met the pope and Mike won’t be inviting anyone to the White House for dinner, so that love affair could already be over.

Anyway, enough about her. She can go on living by or breaking the law in her own world. Kentucky can deal with her and I don’t need the play-by-play.

As for the pope? I don’t know. It’s like when I lived in Wisconsin and I rooted for the Green Bay Packers. I did that because that’s what you do when you live in Wisconsin. When they won, life was good. People were happy. However, when they lost, especially a playoff or Super Bowl game, the level of upset in their true fans was something I just didn’t feel. It was a reminder that I was never fully vested in the sport to begin with and I was glad.

For the record, I am not anti-religion. This isn’t about religion, it’s about common decency. However, the county worker’s lawyer dragged the pope into the discussion so I wanted to tell you a little bit about the Christians that I know and what I thank God for in my life.

Catholicism was a presence in my upbringing and is a big part in the lives of many of my immediate and extended family members and friends.

I thank God that I have a diverse sample of Christians in my life hailing from different denominations as well as non-denominational evangelical Christians. The Christians I know are nothing like the county worker. They are kind and loving and I’m fortunate to have them in my life. Granted, we might not see eye-to-eye on certain issues, but they don’t treat me like a lesser human. I’m pretty sure that’s quite the opposite of what Jesus taught and a true Christian knows this.

They hold strong to their convictions, but they don’t assert their views or beliefs on others. They are open to discussions and I’ve had my share. What I appreciate most about the Christians I know is that they live their life by their faith.

I thank God that my family supports me in who I love which I didn’t think was possible 25 years ago. It wouldn’t be fair to say it was always easy, but the process was a journey and an incredible learning experience, albeit work. I currently benefit from closer family bonds with open lines of communication.

I was able to witness my grandparents on my father’s side evolve their views after learning I wouldn’t be making them great grandparents. Despite any thoughts they had prior, they accepted me for who I am.

Our visits during my trips ‘back home’ were something special and my partner was always welcome. They began addressing Christmas cards to both me and my partner. I’m so thankful for this simple act, especially now that they both have passed. These were the two people I thought would be most disappointed in me, but that was not the case.

I thank God that, in some small way, I have been able to impact opinions and/or behaviors within the microcosm I reside. I’ve been pleasantly surprised at the individual level.

On a greater scale, we aren’t where I thought we would be when I left home for college in 1992. I live in a state where people can be denied work or be terminated based on sexual orientation. When company policies put more parameters on the company’s behavior than state laws, it’s time to take a step forward. We are, as Miranda from The Devil Wears Prada would say, moving at a glacial pace.

To pretend that the county worker was within her right to not sign those documents is absolutely ridiculous. She found God and scrubbed her sins and is claiming to protect her rights as she infringes on the rights of others. It’s a real shame that the Christians who make headlines have as much impact causing a divide as they do. However, there’s money to be made in controversy. As long as we can be pitted against one another, we will continue to be.

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