LJ Spencer

Writer, pastor, poest, fiber artist, queer, kinky, and all that.

updates

Musings for a Summer's Night

It's almost Litha, or Summer Solstice, here and I'm getting used to the fact that there's very little darkness at night this far north. Sunset is around ten o'clock at night, and the sky stays the deep blue of Astronomical Twighlight instead

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Night Church Featured

Work in Progress Sneak Peek: Night Church, Chapter 1

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Featured

Work in Progress Sneak Peek: The White Queen, Chapter 1

activism Featured

The American Dream is my Nightmare and I'm Done Being Polite About It: The American Cult is Killing Us and We Pretend it Doesn't Exist.

The American Dream was never for people like me. It’s a lie that’s kept us in line. Compassion without justice is complicity. Forgiveness without change is surrender. I’m done being polite—it's time to speak the truth: the American Dream is a weapon.

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Night Church Featured

WIP Sneak Peek: The Uranian Gambit, Chapter 1

World AIDS Day, 1993

All I wanted to do was help so I made quilt pins with the help of my art teacher and a few others I sold them that day at City Hall and gave the organizer all the money I had earned. I remember him standing and looking at me— He

New Site, who dis?

Sitting in my office in our new (to me) house in Ireland, I looked out my window and saw the above. Staring out my office window has become my new favorite pastime, and the dark rain clouds behind the buildings overlooking the town square made for a beautiful sight. Honestly,

Poetry

Easter Sunday

you rose on the third day but the men didn't believe the women when they said you were gone you walked with men on the road and they didn't recognize you until you fed them you appeared among them and, even with the proof you showed

crucificion

Holy Saturday

Three Hours Agony Looking up at me the women cried men stared soldiers stood watching the crowd I saw them all their souls-- their fear-- everything even as the first nail entered my body they still didn't understand I thought He'd left me I thought He&

green card Featured

If Your View on Immigration Fits in a Tweet, It’s Probably Wrong

It's amazing to me how many people bitch about immigration here in Ireland, in Europe, and in the US, but have no idea what it takes to immigrate to a new country legally. You can’t just pack up all your stuff, show up wherever you want, and

lent

Good Friday

I tell my story in the hopes that someone will change their heart and maybe find compassion for people who just want to live and exist It's a lot less stressful to be kind.

Poetry

Lent Poetry 43 and Maundy Thursday

43 She came through like Water elemental like Earth, dark with loam She is the Land was the Land will always been the Land She is also the Sorceress the One Who Gives Power She filled me then as nothing I have encountered before Later, as I fell asleep She

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Lent Poetry 42

her soul shines bright it's light drawing me like a moth to a flame but instead of burning it is warmth and love that flows around and through me feeling like home I always wonder why so many have tried to dim this light that gives me so

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Lent Poetry 40 and 41

40 Joe he was seated next to us small, old, but stylish-- I liked his sweater-- we introduced ourselves as our dinners arrived he ate his fish, then made a trough of his potatoes and gravy telling us it was important to make sure you ate all the meat so

lent Featured

Lent Poetry 39

A Child’s Conversation on a Plane Why are we so high? We’re going above the clouds! Mummy, we’re above the world! Look at the clouds, Mummy! We’re above the trees now! Mummy, why did you say Goodbye, Daddy? Was your Daddy here? Can I have a

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Lent Poetry 38

I walked the path even though I was tired and the coffee hadn't kicked in yet the morning air made me feel normal and, while bright, the sun felt good on my skin I could go out and breathe looking at possibilities instead of seeing destruction

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Lent Poetry 37

sometimes I just sit in the quiet no videos, no social media only the sounds of life coming from my window above the square usually the world seems normal with just people talking kids playing life going about its business but today was not quiet there were people gathering subdued,

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Lent Poetry 36

in the quiet I can imagine a kinder world with community and compassion where curiosity about life was more important than money and power I know, I know, it's a radical dream but maybe if I dream it enough it will manifest

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Lent Poetry 35

if I could focus today on just writing a poem it would be a miracle my mind is too full of everything emotions frustrations all of it the never-ending flow of it all is exhausting I stare at a blank page brain too full to put down words

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Lent Poetry 34

the tower is falling crumbling at the feet of oligarchy we saw it coming it wasn't hidden the danger was clear but people are still surprised the survivor guilt is real and all I am able to do is watch it fall and take those I love with

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Lent Poetry 33

The camera shows me one thing but my mind sees something completely different what's drag and what's reality? some days it's really hard to tell the difference

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Lent Poetry 31 and 32

31 they come into my mind one by one using my mind and my voice to give us wisdom a blue fairy with wings a dark creature a ghost and lastly, Her-- the pillar of Fire She who Burns into the night 32 my body didn't want to

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Lent Poetry 30

He called to me demanding to be let out. I cleaned the shelves freeing them of 15 years of dust putting His statue on them setting candles and other various things. Calling in our Temple filling it with our power claiming this new Sacred Space. It is now ours and

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Lent Poetry 29

steps that take a strange order of operations I don't understand-- how do you know when you are done? the dance is more complicated than the music Does it really need to be this way? the story should be more important than the spectacle but the dance doesn&

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Lent Poetry 28

all the things I've ever done that could be called brave were just something I had to do there was nothing special in my actions I existed through the terror and lived I know that there are times where I need to do things, that I need to