I've been on a "high" since Wednesday afternoon. When I got to my desk after a day of training, a new pile of work that had been put there brought me down a bit. I refused to let that ruin my weekend, and so I piled it neatly, along with the work generated by the training, locked up my desk, and LEFT!
A friend wondered if I would be writing less in this journal, now. And I answered, "I hope not; I'll need it more than ever." I will be busy during this spring and summer, but not really any busier than I am already. I don't plan to "retire" from my job until sometime in August.
I have spoken to the Rector at the church where I will serve out my internship, and we have a date next week to talk about my duties. He is an old friend, and one of my strong supporters during all this. The Bishop has OK'd my doing the internship there.
The crunch will come in the fall, when I begin seminary. However, even there, I will have my laptop, and hopefully they have internet connections in the dorm rooms. If not, I can still write during the days I am there, then upload one or two entries when I am home on the weekends. That is the good thing about this "commuter" seminary!
Yesterday, I had a long talk with another priest friend on our long drive to the Council meeting. He went to the same seminary (he also had a later call), and says that the campus and program are really set up to help the older student who doesn't necessarily need campus life. I had a funny thought about all this the other day. You see, I commuted to Katharine Gibbs Business School when I graduated from High School; commuted to college when I worked on my bachelor's; commuted to another college when I worked on my master's. Now, at age 66, I will be spending 3 or 4 nights on campus!
I promise not to binge drink and carouse.
But, to get back to the journal; I use this venue to try out ideas, to sort out my thoughts, and to reflect on my days. As I struggle through homiletic, ethics, and pastoral counseling, to name a few, I will need this down time. But more importantly, I will need contact with the larger world, and the interactions with people that this journal affords.
So, I think I will continue to use this journal. I will also continue to write in my spiritual journal, uploading the odd entry occasionally. This will force me to maintain my spiritual discipline and help me through the difficult times. I am sure there WILL be difficult times; times when I wonder if I was crazy to listen to that nagging little voice that set me on this path.
But, right now I feel like shouting, "Bring them on! I'm doing the Lord's work!"
Life is good; thanks be to God and the Commission on Ministry! Amen
4:06 PM
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