What should I do with my life now?

[Meldread]

I am horribly disappointed at our defeat in this Presidental Election as well as our looses in the House and the Senate. Even more so I'm disappointed in my fellow Americans who were so willing to simply hand this man, this despicable man, the keys to the White House for another four years. I ask myself: Why? Don't they see what I see? Don't they feel as I feel? What makes them different from me?

I don't have the answer to all of those questions but I know what motivated a lot of them: their faith and their ignorance. I live in a Red State, Virginia, and I see these people all around me. I speak to them. I listen to them. They aren't stupid people -- not really -- their head is filled with lies and ignorance. Part of me is angry with them and another part of me pities them. I pity them because they are blind to what is going on around them. They just don't see it.

Six things and people opened my eyes and help shape me to be who I am today: My Mother, My Grandmother, being homosexual, Ralph Nader, George W. Bush and Howard Dean.

My Mother and Grandmother taught me compassion and taught me how to be a good person. Being homosexual taught me about the golden rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. It sucks to be discriminated against. Ralph Nader opened my eyes to Politics with his famous line: "Turn on to Politics before Politics turns on you." I got to see what he meant first hand during the G.W. Bush Administration. Howard Dean taught me, and more importantly, made me believe that I could make a difference as a individual. He helped me believe in me and my abilities.

For a long time now I've known what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to use my life in a positive way, to help other people, to make their lives better, and as I tuned into Politics I also wanted to make the world a better place as well. However, I am faced with the inevitable question of: How? What can I do as a person to make a difference?

It is one of my life goals to some day eventually run for an elected office, but during that interim I want to spend my time changing lives and the way people view the world. I want to help show everyone that Democratic Values ARE Family Values, that Democratic Values ARE American Values and I want to make my state a dark blue state. I'm willing to spend years on my cause -- it's a long term project.

I originally, for a career, wanted to become a Psychologist so that I could work with children and their families who are having problems. I wanted to try and help "heal" them and make their lives better. However, after this election I am not so sure. I look around and I see so many people motivated by Faith -- people who "claim" to be Christians and yet I see no evidence of it there. They are filled with anger and hate. They preach hate and by and large their "leaders" are corrupt. I've never considered myself a devout believer in God or Jesus or any of that, but I certainly admired what the Biblical version of Jesus stood for. He was a good guy, probably more liberal than most of us. Yet, I see no trace of that in these people.

So with my life goals in mind I'm giving serious consideration into becoming a Priest. I can accomplish many of my goals -- if not all of them -- as a Priest. In addition to that I can combat the viciousness that has taken root in Christianity. I can try and pull people away from that, to show them that there is a better way, that they can be better people. I feel I could perhaps be successful in this endeavor, and I can even use it to gain a base of support to begin turning my state into a Blue State by creating "Liberal Evangelicals". From this base of support I could use it to get myself and other liberal people elected as well as fund raising -- relying on the community rather than big corporate donors.

I am not sure what I should do. Certainly, I think I could use it and the influence that comes with it to make a change and do good things as well as combat those who are for all intents and purposes corrupt and evil. (I don't think there is another word that can be used to describe people like Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell.) I am interested in your thoughts on the matter? What should I do?

[crispini]

1. Wow, that's an interesting post.

What kind of priest, Catholic? You say you don't consider yourself a devout believer in God, do you really think you'd be up for a long-term vocation that intimately has to do with God? I think it's a fine idea and I'm all for thinking extremely long term, but if I were you I'd investigate it a little more and think about if you can deal with all of the religious duties and beliefs of a priest as well.

You say you're gay -- you might also want to look into specific denominations and figure out one that you can live with 24/7.

I know what you mean about making a long-term committment to this. Like you, I'm looking into some big changes... I'm considering becoming a lawyer, one who will fight on the side of the angels. That's my thought, anyway, I'm still pursuing it.

Good luck; keep us posted! :)

[Meldread]

2. No, not Catholic.

I'm not sure what denomination to be honest. I've never been a "Religious Nut" or anything, I've always trusted more in Science, always been more prone to follow logic and reason rather than simply hanging onto a belief that seems to have been proven false. There are *MANY* Christians out there just like that. In fact, dare I say, the majority of them are probably like that.

I have to chuckle, though, at the thought of running for office against a Republican. If I was a Priest he certainly wouldn't be able to pull out the Moral Values card! Ha!

What I want to do is make a difference in people's lives and to make an impact on the world around me -- in a positive way. I see being a Priest as one possible avenue although there may be others. I'm giving it serious thought but really haven't decided to go down that road yet.

[petrock2004]

4. unitarian universalists?

they're pretty logical

good luck :hi:

[Meldread]

5. Interesting.

I'm doing a bit of research on them now. .

[Meldread]

3. Kick

Was hoping for more than once response. :P I'm honestly looking for people's thoughts