Due to the connectivity of facebook today I found out an old friend had passed away. His name was Mark Fuglestveit. See I find it quite weird because I knew him from a very different period in my life. I met him first when I was 17 and now I’m 26 on the verge of 27. Well it was definitely an extremely different period in my life. A period where I thought I was straight and very involved in the church. I actually attended Capernwray Bible school with him for my first semester.
Mark was the person, you couldn’t help but love. Easygoing, friendly and when he asked if you were okay, he actually cared. I don’t the know story surrounding his passing and is a little hard when I’m in Australia and he was in Canada. But his passing has really made me reminisce on my time spent at Capernwray.
A lot of gay people may not understand this, but I do not regret my time at bible school or with the church for that matter. That was a period in my life, that influenced and shaped me into the person I have become today. It was due to this that contrary to what some might say, that I was able to accept myself and my own self worth and realised who I was. I was and am will be forever grateful for that.
I recall the last time I spoke to Mark online, and it was actually the first time in ages and I shared with him my coming out and the events surrounding that. So many people are quick to judge Christians etc, but what some people have to realise is religion, isn’t the problem but merely the people within. I can proudly say Mark would not have been classified with those.
He may not have understood certain aspects of my life, but he still accepted me none the less and without judgement, and that is the true example of a Christian. He would not judge, instead he chose to try and understand the person behind it. And with all honesty I think he did. There is so much we can learn from the life of Mark and the fact is I could ramble on all day, but the ultimate lesson was accept people without judgement and be open to people, their stories and backgrounds.
My sincere sympathies go to his brother Luke and his family during this time of great loss.
Mark, thankyou for teaching me so much and having a part in such an influential period in my life, thanks for the memories, the D & M’s and may you ride the great waves above.
love you bro xxx
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Well said Chad.
thnaks babe. much love from oz and hope ur well. xxx