Rev. Jerry D. Troyer

What does it mean to "come out"? For those of us in the LGBT community, it means telling friends and family about our sexual orientation.

But consider the invitation for everyone. It has to do with admitting who we are or what happened, without judgment or editorial comment. Maybe we were adopted; or left a marriage even though we promised "until death do us part"; or had a baby before we were married; or......

My experience of coming out to close friends and family was much less painful than I could have imagined. In fact, they were much more accepting of me than I was of myself.

Once we admit, then we accept, which often includes the opportunity (and necessity) for forgiveness. We forgive the people in our lives who didn't treat us the way we should have been treated. And we forgive ourselves for the mess we made--whatever it was.

And then we embrace--all the people and situations in our lives that looked like disasters but brought us to where we are today.

Aren't you ready? As best selling author Debbie Ford said, "what we can't be with won't let us be."

Take care of yourself.