I Know Someone

I Know Someone 

By Mary Oliver

I know someone who kisses the way
a flower opens, but more rapidly.
Flowers are sweet. They have
short, beatific lives. They offer
much pleasure. There is
nothing in the world that can be said
against them.
Sad, isn’t it, that all they can kiss is the air.
Yes, yes! We are the lucky ones.

About the Poem

There is something wonderfully simple and joyful about this poem. In just a few lines, Mary Oliver takes an ordinary human act—a kiss—and compares it to a flower opening toward the world. The image is tender, sensual, and alive with warmth. Flowers, she reminds us, are beautiful and fleeting, offering pleasure simply by existing. Yet they can only “kiss the air.” Human beings, however, are given the extraordinary ability to truly touch one another with love and affection.

What makes the poem especially moving is its sense of gratitude. Rather than focusing on loss or longing, Oliver celebrates the gift of connection itself. “Yes, yes! We are the lucky ones,” feels almost like a whispered prayer of thanksgiving for intimacy, companionship, and love. It is a reminder not to take those moments for granted.

For LGBTQ+ readers, the poem can carry an even deeper resonance. Much of queer life has historically involved hiding affection, denying love, or being told that certain kinds of love were somehow lesser. Oliver’s poem quietly rejects that shame. Love is natural. Affection is beautiful. Human connection is a blessing. The poem delights in tenderness without apology.

There is also something deeply hopeful in Oliver’s words. Flowers bloom briefly, but while they are here, they are radiant. Human lives are also fleeting, yet we are capable of giving and receiving love in ways that transform us. That, Oliver suggests, is part of what makes life sacred.

About the Poet

Mary Oliver (1935–2019) was one of America’s most beloved poets, known for her deeply observant writing about nature, spirituality, love, and the human experience. Her poetry often explored the sacredness of ordinary moments, finding profound meaning in birdsong, forests, rivers, and quiet acts of affection.

Oliver won both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award and became widely admired for poetry that was accessible, emotionally honest, and spiritually reflective. Many readers found comfort in the gentleness and wisdom of her work.

In her later collections, particularly Felicity, Oliver wrote more openly about love and intimacy, drawing inspiration from her decades-long relationship with photographer Molly Malone Cook. These poems carry a warmth and tenderness that continue to resonate strongly with LGBTQ+ readers and anyone who has experienced deep affection and companionship.

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Pride Month Begins 🏳️‍🌈

Happy Pride Month!

Today marks the beginning of June, a month that means many different things to many different people. For LGBTQ+ people, Pride Month is a time to celebrate who we are, to remember those who came before us, and to recognize how far we have come. It is also a reminder that the journey toward equality, dignity, and acceptance is not yet complete.

For me, Pride Month has never been about believing I am better than anyone else. It is about rejecting the shame that so many of us were taught to carry. It is about recognizing that we all deserve to live authentically and that there is nothing shameful about being who we are.

Pride Month is often about letting go of fear—the fear of rejection, the fear of judgment, the fear of being told that we are somehow less than who we truly are.

Pride Month is also a time to remember those who fought for the freedoms many of us enjoy today. It is a time to honor those who lived openly when doing so carried tremendous risks, and those who never had the opportunity to live openly at all.

As June begins, I hope this month will be one of joy, reflection, community, and love. Whether you attend a Pride event, fly a rainbow flag, spend time with friends, or simply take a moment to appreciate how far you’ve come on your own journey, I hope you find reasons to celebrate.

Happy Pride Month, everyone. 🏳️‍🌈

Love one another!

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Love One Another Deeply

“Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.” — Romans 12:10 

Tomorrow marks the beginning of Pride Month. Across the world, LGBTQ+ people will celebrate their identities, honor those who fought for equality, and remember those whose courage made it possible for many of us to live more openly today.

Before Pride Month begins, however, it is worth reflecting on the foundation upon which any healthy community must be built: love.

In Romans 12:10, Paul writes:

“Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.”

At the heart of Christian living is a call to love one another deeply, generously, and selflessly. That command applies not only to our churches and families but also to the relationships and communities we build as LGBTQ+ people.

The phrase “kindly affectionate” speaks of genuine warmth and care for others. It is not merely tolerance or politeness. It is a love that values another person and seeks their well-being. Likewise, “brotherly love” points to the bonds that unite us in friendship, fellowship, and mutual support.

Jesus gave a similar command when He said:

“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” — John 15:12

And the Apostle John reminds us:

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” — 1 John 4:7 

These verses do not place limits on who may love or who is worthy of love. Instead, they point us toward a God whose very nature is love and who calls us to reflect that love in our relationships with others.

For many gay men, there is something especially meaningful in the connection between romantic love and brotherly love. Strong same-sex relationships are often built upon both. The man we love is frequently not only a romantic partner but also a trusted friend, confidant, companion, and source of strength. Romantic affection and deep friendship are often woven together in ways that enrich and strengthen both.

Scripture offers many examples of profound devotion between people. One of the most famous is the friendship between David and Jonathan. After Jonathan’s death, David mourned:

“I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; You have been very pleasant to me; Your love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women.” — 2 Samuel 1:26 

Whatever conclusions people draw about the nature of their relationship, Scripture clearly presents it as one marked by loyalty, sacrifice, affection, and devotion. They honored one another and remained faithful to one another despite tremendous personal risk.

That same spirit should characterize all our relationships today. Whether we are single, dating, married, or surrounded by friends and chosen family, God calls us to be people who love deeply and honor one another generously.

Pride Month is often misunderstood by those outside the LGBTQ+ community. At its best, Pride is not about arrogance or self-centeredness. Rather, it is a rejection of shame and a celebration of the truth that every person is created by God and worthy of dignity and respect. It is about building communities where people are welcomed instead of rejected, supported instead of isolated, and loved instead of condemned.

Paul writes later in this same chapter:

“Be of the same mind toward one another.” — Romans 12:16

And Jesus tells us:

“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” — John 13:35

As we prepare to enter Pride Month, may we remember that Christian love is more than a feeling. It is a commitment. It is choosing to care for one another, support one another, and honor one another as beloved children of God.

May we be kindly affectionate toward one another with brotherly love. May we give preference to one another in honor. And may the love we share—between friends, partners, spouses, and chosen family—reflect the boundless love of the God who first loved us.

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Moment of Zen: The Beach

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A Slow Start to Friday

Last night turned into a later night than I had planned. Then, as usual, Isabella decided that breakfast absolutely could not wait and woke me up at 5:00 this morning. After feeding her, I intended to make coffee and start my day, but instead I crawled back into bed and promptly fell asleep again.

I do have my coffee now, but if I’m being honest, I’d still happily go back to sleep. Thankfully, it’s Friday, and I’m working from home today, so I can take things a little easier than usual.

The weekend is just around the corner, and I’m looking forward to a couple of days to relax and recharge. I hope all of you have a wonderful Friday and an even better weekend!

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