Bruce Jenner and Ryland Whittington: To Laugh Or To Cry

Today, as I knelt in the humid Wisconsin air, scratching away at scrubby plants with a worn, yellow-handled weeder, my head was filled, somewhat unwillingly, with thoughts of the recent Bruce Jenner incident.

 In a way, I am awed at how quickly this story became a national topic. A man who held somewhat of a celebrity status decided that after decades of being a man, it was time to become his "true self." By now you will have seen the Vanity Fair cover plastered on every social media site, and the shelves of most grocery stores; the slender legs, white corset, and  the coy, albeit slightly stretched smile of the man who would now like to be addressed as "Caitlyn". The physical evidence of his being a man, removed and other clearly feminine attributes added, Bruce has achieved what he believes is his "true self."

And the crowd goes wild.

"A hero!" They shout. "An example to us all!" "We accept you for who you truly are!" The nearly unanimous response is one of warm welcome to the "new" Bruce.

And to those who dare not to accept this altered Bruce, the masses snarl,  "Bullies!" "Prejudiced!" "Unkind!" "Ridiculous!" and "Disrespectful!" I've witnessed this in my own newsfeed, and as the debate explodes, I have to wonder if I should laugh or cry. Honestly, this incident is not all that surprising; it appears to be the next logical step in our society's rapid journey down a road that leads to an all-encompassing "inclusiveness," regardless of any moral compass, or merely a good dose of common sense.

For a different example, a few months ago, you might recall that People magazine ran a story about a California couple insisting that others address their six year old daughter, Ryland, as "he," because Ryland told them she was a boy and "began to show aversion to anything feminine." So, the six year old was allowed to don boy clothing, and be addressed as "he." And again, the praise from our nation overflowed.

Ryland Whittington

 I remember my best friend growing up had insisted on being called "Henry" for quite some time, and her parents had merely chuckled and complied, but they didn't rush to the mall to buy her a tuxedo and boxers. Why? Because she was a child, still incapable of deciding what color of toothbrush to get from the dentist, let alone whether she was ready to spend the rest of her life as a boy. Today, she is a beautiful young woman and a happy one at that.

Ryland and Bruce are both products of a world that has turned on its head. Our society has rejected the idea of the woman being the nurturer in the family, the childbearer and a gentle feminine presence, who is the strongest supporter of her husband, the one whose talent holds the family together and of the man being the provider, the rock of the family, and its head.The contemporary woman does not fulfill her crucial role any longer and our nation's birthrate is rapidly declining. The year 2013 saw the lowest birthrate in our nation's history. Larger families (by this I mean more than two children) have become so rare that they are typically regarded as an oddity. Our country's general consensus: women need not retain that old-fashioned stereotype of the mother and wife. It is too restricting and of course, children are such a burden. As I heard just last week at work, "God bless anyone who has more than two!"

So, who will fill the void? Who will take the place of those women, who, whether consciously or not, have rejected the role of nurturer and mother? Bruce will. Bruce and the rest of the men in our world who have embraced their effeminate side. It seems only logical that now that most women reject their femininity, men will follow their lead by abandoning their masculinity, much to the approval of those around them.

So, what are we to do? Grow angry? Get into a huge debate on Facebook with our co-worker?
Nope.
Weed the broccoli, listen to the Weepies, and don't lose any sleep over it.
But do not accept. Do not comply with the spoon-fed ideas that the media and our society will try to shove into your mouth. I do not accept. And you who scream, "Accept!" will ironically enough, be the last to tolerate a dissenting view on the subject.

My friends, the world spins madly on, but there is still sangria and sunshine, a garden to be weeded and fish to be caught. Last but not least, please pray for Bruce Jenner, Ryland Whittington and for our nation. These are confusing and difficult times indeed and nothing can be solved, no one, whether it be me, you, or Bruce Jenner, can be healed without the graces that come from our Divine Physician.