All rightey, I am back to conclude my story on my involvement with the "ORG" (online reality game) community. Before I really get into the second part though, I guess I should mention that me and Mikey (from the last post) have actually just begun our second game together. It's an "all stars" version from the same series we played in three summers ago. It's kinda weird for us to be playing together again three years later! But I'm excited for it. I hope we both last a long time in the game and we get to bond even more over this experience. I'll let y'all know how it goes as the summer progresses.
After I got voted out of my first game in the summer of 2006, I wasn't all too eager to play another one. It might sound silly, but it's not really a pleasant feeling to be rejected and voted out of a game by a bunch of people. Haha. But alas, after several months went by I found myself itching to play again. To do better.
So in March of 2007 I discovered another series to dive into. I applied for the fourth season in that series and got in. And I did do better this time, getting 5th place (compared to 10th last time). I had a lot more fun in this game, that's for sure. And I wound up sticking around in the following seasons with other fellow "alumni" of the series. And suddenly, twelve seasons in, it's a pretty robust community!
I played in an "all stars" version of this series last summer and didn't do so hot, but I developed some amazing bonds playing in that game. Again, these aren't just random, robotic entities playing the game - they're real people. Real people with real lives and real problems. 95% of whom don't have a personal relationship with Christ. I've definitely tried to shine His light in these opportunities the best I can.
There's one person in particular I'm really trying to shine for in this series. And he's none other than the host/founder of the series himself. He's only a year older than me so we're around the same age and everything. He believes in God, throws Jesus' name around his Facebook profile, and goes to church often.
And he just happens to be gay. Dating another guy.
I've never discussed my faith or his faith with him. But obviously I'm very curious and eager to do so someday. Because I honestly don't know what exactly he believes in. Me and him have a special kind of bond because out of all the alumni of his series, I've basically stuck around the longest. And I'll continue to stick around that series until he finally decides to hang it up. I often wonder if God randomly introduced me to this series just so I could potentially share my story with him.
My
whole story. Same-sex attraction and all. The fact that he clearly believes in God and has some kind of recognition of Jesus Christ's identity strikes me as a bit of a "sign" that maybe I will indeed share my story with him someday.
In many ways I kinda look at him as what I'd be like if I stopped fighting my desires. I've seen and experienced too much in my life already to ever deny God's existence and Christ's saving power in my life. So even if I were in a million years to ever date and mess around with other guys...I honestly couldn't see my perspective of God changing. The question is though, how long could I live like that before God somehow brought me back to Him?
And so I wonder about this host. I wonder if living in this lifestyle will ever grow tiring and fruitless to him. I wonder if he truly is saved...how long will it take before God brings him back to Him? Is God just waiting on me to make a move and finally talk with him and open it all up? I don't know.
And so, there you have it. That's basically the story of my involvement with this "other" online community. On one side I have the greatest male friend I've ever had and yet have never met in person; on the other a guy committed to a boyfriend and yet dually a very spiritual person. I try to pray for both of these guys every day, along with the countless others I've come across in ORG-land. Real people.
And I hope they all see at least some glimpse of Christ in me.
Comments (1)
keep shining Christ's light, t. keep praying for those two men in your onlife (like that? ha). the last "keep", keep a lookout for opportunities to minister and evangalize to them.
also, when you talk to the one who has a boyfriend, i'm personally curious as to why or how he believes that pursuing God and pursuing his boyfriend are not mutually exclussive. that was one idea i was considering a few months ago. i see how those actions are mutually exclusive in my own life now, though.