The Power of Love

The power of love is an amazing thing. It’s an emotion and belief that anyone from all walks of life can stand behind. I believe in the power of love.

I have always tried to live my life with one simple rule. Love everyone the way you want to be loved. Keeping this in my heart has always forced me to keep an open mind and think about others. If you keep love there will be no room for hate. My best friend Joe had the same rule except when it came to gays. I could never bring myself to tell him I was gay. I lost every friend that I came out to and I didn’t want to lose Joe.

I started to lose that love I held so tight. The hate and discrimination that I saw and faced for being gay was wearing me thin. I went to church and loved everyone there, but when I came out things changed. I was thrown out. They took their love back from me and replaced it with angry and hateful words and deeds. I started to believe that if I wanted to be loved then I had to change.

I thought long and hard about how I was going to change. I tried to convince myself how much happier I would be if I just became straight. I shut down and kept it to myself. I figured if no one knew then I would still be loved. There was only one problem with that. I no longer loved myself. How was anyone else going to love me?

I sat with Joe in his car. We had been best friends for ten years now. He was abused as a child and was convinced that all gay people were evil. He started going on one of his rants about how evil the gays were. I loved him but something in me snapped.

“I’m one of those fags you think should be put to death!” I screamed.

I jumped out of the car and left. I went home and laid in bed and thought about what just happened. I cried thinking that I just lost my best friend.

Joe showed up at my house the next day. He had flowers. He held them out without looking up.

“I love you. I’m sorry and ashamed for all the things I ever said about gay people.”He cried.

Through each other’s love we found peace. We were able to put the pain that others had caused us behind. I don’t care anymore what people think of me. I don’t care if they think it is wrong. I know and love who I am. The power of love is amazing and I believe in it.