A while ago I ran across a synchroblog event on the web. The idea alone was cool enough, but this particular event was aimed at bringing together voices who speak out on the common ground between us, it was called: “Bridging the Gap: Conversations on Befriending Our Gay Neighbors.” (Over 50 bloggers simultaneously posted articles on June 24th on the topic of bridging the gap between the church and the gay community.)
I was moved by what I read, and encouraged by all the various types of individuals out there who shared from their hearts. This impressive coming together of writers and hearts inspired me to create the “bridge builder award.”
The bridge builder award is pretty simple really. Think of a blogger or web writer you know who, in their connections with others, really has a heart for building bridges between all different types of people. Someone who leaves you with a little more hope, humor, humility, happiness.
Are you a bridge builder? Do you know a bridge builder? Nominate them here.
There are two “rules” for this award:
- The first rule is to write 3 ways you build bridges between yourself and others.
- The second is to nominate 3 of your favorite blogs/writers for this award.
A good blog friend of mine suggested that as an alternate to “rule 1” above: “Perhaps your future awards should be where you provide the three reasons how someone bridges the gap and then the recipients respond to the award and the three reasons you provide.”
I think I will work on writing this up.
If you have been nominated, email me and I will happily send you the code for the badge.
Who are some of the amazing individuals who have already been nominated and awarded as Bridge Builders?
- Rebecca and Lorri at Truth and Love After 40
- Liz at Grace Rules
- Hugh at Meet Adam and Steve
- Lindsey at *![emphatic asterisk]
- Anita at Grace Unfolding-SisterFriends
- Queer Unity at the Queers United Blog
- Kathy at The Carnival in my Mind
- Phil at PhilShepherd.com
- Candace at Bulletproof Faith
- Rachel at The Sweet Bi and Bi
- Jude at Jaysays
- Birdie at Strelitzia Blog
- Karen at Pursuing God
- Andrew at Love is an Orientation
- Jules at The Wonderer
You know, in all honesty, some days I think I am….and other days, quite clearly not. I believe in education, I believe in making sure they know who we are and where we’re at and not hiding in the shadows….but as I’ve aged, I have no tolerance for rude comments or hatefulness. And there are just simply days that I don’t feel like being the educator any more. I’d rather be the one who says point blank “that’s not acceptable in the year 2009.” So, sort of a builder here…..sorta not.
Thank you so much for your note on my blog! I’d LOVE to write a few blogs on this theme. I’ll have to do in September after I finish writing up my thesis, though :S (See my most recent blog). Is that okay?
I think it is SO important to look for ways we can bring different parts of communities together. In some ways I think that’s what I invest most of my time doing since my “expertise” is in intercultural and inter-religious communication!
I think that this is a great idea. I suppose that you could summarize what I’m trying to do with my blog as building bridges. My goal is to show people all over the world that LGBT folks are normal people, just like them. But if I’m saying that, then it *has* to work both ways: I have to be telling LGBT people that those folks who harbor misconceptions about them are normal people, just like them. If circumstances had been a little different, you or I could be just like them. We’re all human. And we need to respect and talk to each other.
I’m probably missing something right in front of my nose, but how do we vote? I have someone in mind.
Thanks for your transparent thoughts on this Arnie. I can relate to how you articulated that. That IS still being a bridge builder. Some days we have more energy to bring others along on the bridge with us… others? That is how life is. HUGS!
Hi welovetea: I understand that! I know once the Fall arrives my hands may be pretty full as well. That’s more than OK! 🙂
I look forward to your new posts!
Hi there Hugh! I think it is definitely building bridges! And I agree that bridge building needs to work both ways. So true… reminds me of the Melissa Etheridge lyric:
“I’m scared of growin’ old
I shiver when I’m cold
Don’t you think I bleed the same blood
I, I could’ve been you
You could’ve been me�
One small change that shapes your destiny�
If you want the proof�
Cut me and you’ll see�
I could’ve been you
You could’ve been me.”
Thank you again for what you do Hugh!
How you vote is this, when you put the badge up you nominate someone in that post (then send the suggestion to me).
Note from bridgeout: Liz at http://gracerules.wordpress.com who was nominated for the Bridge Builder Award sent the following to me via email It is too good not to share here!
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Hi Wendy!
What a lovely idea, and thank you by the way!
My three nominations are: Anita from SisterFriends Together at http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/
Jude, (geekgirl) our ally from LGBT latest science http://lgbtlatestscience.wordpress.com/ and who has the LGBT Lessons for Straight People Category at Jaysays:
http://jaysays.com/category/lgbtlessons/
She is also responsible for turning our allies blue on twitter!
And yes Hugh, from Meet Adam and Steve, who I thought of immediately even before I came over here, LOL. Because we should be as enthusiastic about our rights as he is! http://meetadamandsteve.blogspot.com/
You are very welcome Rebecca! 🙂 All three are excellent nominees! Thank you! I will get on that! 😀 These are all wonderful bridge builders!
[…] Bridges In The Community?” I’ll let her describe what it’s all about: The bridge builder award is pretty simple really. Think of a blogger or web writer you know who, in their connections with […]
With me it depends on who’s
on the bridge…I don’t wanna
build a bridge to my past but I have
to in order to see if I can make contact
with the daughter I put up for adoption.
But like Lewis said…Sometimes I feel
like I am and other times I feel like
I don’t want to…
LOVE AND HUGS!!!!!!!!
Laurie
I have been meaning to take you up on this *forever*. I ought to be spanked for having such bad follow through!
Chuckling… no spankin’ here Lindsey. 🙂 I remain grateful for your heart you share and the bridges you build!
thanks for the award. it is always nice to know that people are reading & bridges are getting built. peace & hope, kathy
ps: finally got the badge up, i’m always a few weeks behind 🙂
Argh. Every time a comment comes up I hang my head at not having gotten to this yet. It’s been a crappy week, but also the task is very difficult for me to approach. “How am I a bridge builder?… Well, I can name maybe one way, but mostly the question makes me think of the ways in which I *want* to be a bridge builder, and how much they scare the crap out of me…”
I should get to it tonight or tomorrow, though.
Thank you Kathy for the light and grace you share on your blog! Just visited there again this morning.
Hi Hugh… How much better could it be than to make us question “what ways can I be a bridge builder?” Take your time! 🙂
Well, I finally got my entry done.
http://meetadamandsteve.blogspot.com/2009/08/building-bridges.html
How long until voting ends? I’d like some time to cast my second and third votes.
Oh, by the way, those Melissa Etheridge lyrics are fantastic–exactly what I’m talking about!
-Hugh
Hugh, this was just right. I know how you labored over what you wrote, and that makes it all that much more authentic! Thank you again for caring enough to put yourself out there and be a bridge builder. I think it is more of a journey than a destination, so we can all be “becoming” better bridge builders each day!
I agree with your 1st nomination of Jude. She has been nominated above as well!
And please, take as much time as you like for nominations– there is no time constraint and truthfully, no limit on nominations… considering I want to encourage as many connections between bridge builders as possible!
I knew those Melissa Etheridge lyrics would speak to what you were conveying. 🙂
Thanks Hugh!
From Karen at Pursuing God (http://pursuegod.wordpress.com/)
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