Free at Last! Free at Last!

Kerry was having a severe allergic reaction. She called her wife, then rushed toward the elevator to get to the hospital.

She died in the hallway.

She then found herself headed toward a white, limitless Light. A loving and gentle force drew her toward it. But her journey was interrupted.

She was stopped by her deceased grandparents. They were luminous and beautiful and she knew them immediately.

They wanted to tell her they were sorry. They now knew something they had not known in the world. Her family had caused her to live her life in fear.

Her family and her church had told her she was going to hell for being gay. She rejoiced that they now accepted her.

But her grandparents had some bad news for her. It was not her time.

Kerry wanted to stay in this abundant love. She wanted to get to the Light.

And she did.

There before God, “in deepest humility,” Kerry said, “I uttered seven words: ‘I’m gay, will you still love me?’”

God’s words to her changed everything: “You are my child. I love you, I love you, I love you. Go back and tell them.”

That’s what she has been doing, as have other gay people who have had near-death experiences.

Just this last week, the United Methodist Church at its General Conference got out of the hate business. We removed the anti-gay words placed in our Book of Discipline in 1972.

The chains that bound us have been broken. “Free at last, free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”

Free to live the Gospel of God’s unconditional love for all people.

Let us rejoice!