What measures of safety do you need in place so you can speak up? Is speaking up easy for you? Today, I did. I used my confident, outside voice, and clearly said:

“Gentlemen, the word faggot is hate speech, just like the N-word. This is an inclusive space.”

Guru and I were in a small-town coffee shop, small rainbow flag flying. I didn’t hesitate. I chose to speak up. I am the beacon of Daniel Belum and that means, I shine His light so others can see Him. Maybe that light draws folks to Him that need His healing? Perhaps that light also shines so brightly, the foolish ones cover their eyes and slink back into the angry-places to skulk and feel outraged at the light?

Ding! Change Happened

Here We are, 45 min later, coffee’s finished. The nearby courthouses and public office workers coming in to get their morning buzz. I hear the door chime ding again and see the speakers friend approach Us, he and his friend had left about 5 minutes prior. I smiled my warm sunflower smile.

“I just want to apologize for what happened earlier. That didn’t sit well with me and I wanted to come back in and say I’m sorry.” He spoke quietly but confidently, apologizing for his friends hate speech, but also because he didn’t’ speak up at the time, that was also in his eyes.

My Guru stood, I was already standing as I was working at a standing station on my laptop. He reached out to shake Our hands and somehow, my small soft hand went into the middle of those men with my Guru’s hand overlapping mine, protective and sure. The 3 of us shook hands and shared a moment of human kindness and growth.

I wonder if the next time he’s hearing a conversation with hate speech, he’ll have the bravery of a sunflower and speak up.