I have finished the race. I have kept the faith."

As he read, Matt's cheeks grew wet, and the words on the page began to blur.

***

Dr. Steelman visited the Nevelses' home the day after Stephen died. He told Matt and Frances he was sorry for their loss. Frances asked why he had waited so long to come. He said he hadn't known Stephen was home. Matt kept quiet.

Part of Matt could understand the view of the church, the view that Dr. Steelman held.

In the beginning, God created man and woman and joined them together. The Bible's words against homosexuality seemed to be written in stone. For centuries, church leaders had either condemned it or buried it. And to alter your thinking on the topic just posed more questions.

But hereMatt was, swallowed by questions.

How was a man supposed to read Scripture? What else did the church get wrong? Can you toss out certain parts of the Bible and not others? Why were divorce and premarital sex and greed -- all condemned in the Bible -- overlooked but not homosexuality?

He had watched Stephen die, holding on to God with one hand and the hand of his partner with the other -- unapologetic to the end.

Stephen had wanted his funeral in the church where he grew up, but he wanted his father -- not Dr. Steelman -- to lead it. All that was left to do was to get the church's permission.

Dr. Steelman wanted the funeral to be tasteful and respectful of the church, he said he told Matt.