We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Cor. 4:8-9
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jer. 29:11
I will lead the blind by ways they have not known,
along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn the darkness into light before them
and make the rough places smooth.
These are the things I will do;
I will not forsake them. Isaiah 42:16
I got a letter from the E&.S committee telling me about my meeting in two weeks. This after a phone call. I guess they are really going to make sure that they inform me in every way possible. It is slightly annoying. I have been thinking about it a little bit. I guess it is going to be like any other interview and I might need a bible character or story that think mirrors my experience. I can’t remember what I said last time and I can’t think of anything that fits now. Hopefully some inspiration comes over the next couple of weeks. The verses above are standing out as possibilities…I know, not stories but they are from the bible, so it should work.
I guess I should know more about the direction I am heading in, since I am nearly half way through my 2 years. But I have no idea what my future with the church will be. I know one of my problems was articulated wonderfully in the sermon at church last week. Rev. B was talking about how ministers treat other people, and fellow ministers, which can be not good. Minsters despite their knowledge of the bible, and the basics of Christianity seem to have trouble treating their colleagues with dignity, compassion or respect. This is not always the case, but it happens frequently. I have experienced it myself. I am not liberal enough, I want to get married… a lot of little things that really shouldn’t matter, or differences that should be celebrated became reasons to be excluded or looked down upon. I don’t want to become that. But even how, because I am taking a different path, I am treated differently but clergy people who are supposed to be friends. Because I haven’t been ordained yet, or am even sure that is what I truly want, then they needn’t waste time by talking, reaching out, checking in … anything. They act like they are better then me…they are not! I may not be ordained, but I can be a good to another human being. My problem with ministry, is that I will become pretentious, thinking I am better then others, more spiritual then the laity, and so busy being “concerned” about humanity to be concerned about people. All that negates the goodness of following a calling into the church, I don’ t think that is what God would want in the church. It bugs me. I may not have gotten ordained in the four years that were prescribed, I may never, BUT I don’t deserve to be treated like a second class person. If someone could be my friend, then being ordained, (or my not being ordained) shouldn’t change that. Ok…It REALLY bugs me.
I have a lot of things to figure out…goes with the last year of school. Thankfully there is a career fair this coming week at school. Hopefully that will be helpful and provide some ideas or options that will make me feel more comfortable. I would like to have some thoughts on the future for this meeting