The homily started with the observation that society seems as discontent as ever, and more polarized than ever. So what can/should we as Christians do about it? The general answer comes from the Sermon on the Mount, via Matthew 5:14-16 ("You are the light of the world"). In response to the forces that threaten societal dis-integration, we should "shine", that is, we should live the example of brotherhood and outreach and bridge-building and unity.
Then the homily took a direction that challenged me, evoking the controversy that erupted when Chik-Fil-A COO Dan Cathy declared his opposition to same-sex marriage. The extraordinary part of this story, the part that I didn't know, was that in the midst of that period of controversy, Cathy contacted Shane Windmeyer, executive director of Campus Pride - "the leading national organization" for LGBT student rights, exemplifying the "bridge-building" we are called to as ambassadors of Christ.
From this article by Windmeyer we learn that if Cathy was genuinely unaware how his company was being played by hateful anti-gay organizations, he put his corporate giving where his mouth was and withdrew CFA's direct funding of Family Research Council, Eagle Forum and Exodus International. Before we get too sanguine on Chik-Fil-A, commenters were quick to point out the marketing pragmatics and the web of nonprofit laundering that brings CFA money to anti-LBGT organizations anyway.
That's not the part that bothers me though. What concerns me is the phrasing the pastor chose as he wrapped up the take-away from this story, casting Dan Cathy as the Christian exemplar who "reached out to the lost". And the necessary conclusion from this analogy is that we are to encouraged to see Shane Windmeyer as "the lost".
Why is Shane Windmeyer "lost"?
Because he's gay?
That's not the homily's main message, I know, but it's undisputably a subtext.
* * *
I switched over the A/C to "power saving" because I'm awesome like that. Problem is, the noise differential between power-saving cycling and constant is enough to disrupt my sleep. So I woke at ~6AM, coffee by 7, second coffee and 2x egg mcmuffins (36g protein, 600 kcal) before church. I had my gym bag all packed and prepared for after church, but I just wasn't feeling exercise-y. So I cut my jog short at 2 miles, did a set on the "express circuit" quad and calf machine, and called it a day.
After a bit of relaxation, lunch and CA festival guild battle, I stepped back out to a) investigate what I thought was a nature-trail next to the Logger's Run county park and b) get in a little more jogging and sun. Re: lunch: we have a new winner in breads, namely Publix Premium "natural grain" reduced-calorie bread, 5g protein/90 kcal per slice, which is very nearly as good a protein index as a Five Guys cheeseburger.
Turns out what I thought (from looking at Google Maps) was part of the park, is all posted Private Property No Trespassing by "Loggers Run Inc." - an enormous HOA with no less than 15 client "communities" spanning 3 subdivisions, bounded by Loxahatchee Rd to the south, spanning Palmetto and Glades Roads, to the undeveloped southwest wooded border of South County Regional Park. Looking at the Loggers Run Inc. "community site plan" map, it appears that that wooded tract was intended to be developed into "Whispering Pines Park", but has not yet had its intended bike trails and amenities laid out. This still leaves a mystery of the "exercise stations" advertised in the Logger's Run county park web page. I walked along the south side trying to see what I could see, there's obviously electric service and a maintained building in the southeast corner of the tract, but the interior of the tract is obscured by walls of trees. Also, very curious, the gravel road that runs north from Palmetto Park Road just west of Loggers Run county park leads to a weird secluded little area, again walled off by tree cover, which probably looks like undeveloped wooded land to the neighbors but where Google Maps satellite view clearly shows a little collection of buildings. That looks to be part of Boca Woods Country Club though, not Loggers Run Inc.
Anyway, while I was out there, all I knew was that it wasn't open to casual wanderers like myself. So I walked back to county park proper, took a jog around the perimeter of the sport fields, felt eerily alone, and got back in the car to head home. I got all of maybe 10 minutes of sun. I'm fine with that, better none than too much.