The last few weeks have been a blurr! I finished the first two terms of Greek last Friday and I'm getting ready for Term 1 of the 2010-2011 school year to start next week. I'll be taking Greek Exegesis, Homiletics, Ethics, something like Theology in the Parish Context, and Reflections on Ministry (a small group time to talk about our Field Ed. experiences). I'm also working at my two Field Ed. churches - Mt Pleasant Presby, a small suburban church that I'm at three Sundays per month and 2nd United Presby which I work at during the week doing a Kid's Club on Thursday evenings, a worship time before the Food Pantry distribution, and one Sunday per month.
My sister Lee flew in Tuesday evening and we've been having a great time hanging out and spending time with seminary friends.
Wednesday evening we had a few friends over and ended up having an awesome conversation over some beers sitting out on the patio. We were sharing what were the highlights and lowlights of our first year at seminary. It was a very touching time as many of us shared the struggles we had and the sweet friendships that evolved from sharing our pain and doing life together. The repeated theme among everyone was how God brought people into our lives who encouraged us, challenged us, prayed for us, and even suffered with us. It was such a testimony of God's goodness and faithfulness.
I still tear up when I think of how God has worked in my life and Kim's life this last year. The ways that He allowed us to struggle and wallow in our own self-pity, then the clear messages that He brought to us through: a sermon by Craig Barnes at Shadyside Presby on Palm Sunday, the book Encountering God by Andrew Purves, the book When God Interrupts by Craig Barnes, and through classes taught by Rob Gagnon and Andrew Purves, along with many conversations with friends and family.
He has brought Kim and I to a place in our relationship that we never would have gone to without having gone through the struggle we did this last year. We share our own stuff with each other more than we ever did before. We now pray together and read God's word daily together...things that we talked about doing, but never did before. God has become so much more present in our daily lives, and I wouldn't change that for anything. It's very odd. Odd because so many times in our lives we really don't even know what we're missing - in our own lives, in relationships - until something happens that takes us to that different place, and then we think, "My God, how have I missed this my entire life? How did I not know that things could be this way?" Crazy. Faith is crazy. Life is crazy. But I thank God that I'm not doing it alone. I know He is with me, and He has surrounded me with so many people who help me and encourage me, who pray for me, and call me on the carpet on things. I am so thankful and humbled by His love for me, and all of His people.
I am also thankful for how God brought Jon and Kristen in our lives and now into our home, living together in community. We're just at the beginning of this journey, but we already see that God is growing us all through our interactions and conversations. I pray that as we continue this small, intentional community God will open our eyes and move our hearts to say and do things that we might not have done before. I pray He will take us to places that grow each of us and draw us all closer to Him, both individually and as a family in one household. Please join us in that prayer!
I have struggled with my eyesight the last year. I only started wearing glasses - for distance - a year and a half ago. Then in December I had to get bi-focals. But in the last six months my eyesight has really deteriorated. My periphery vision is horrible, I have blind spots both to the right and the left, and my night vision has gotten so bad that I can no longer drive at night! That's not right for someone 47 years old! My eye doc couldn't find anything wrong with my eyes, so next Wednesday I'm going to a neurological ophthalmologist. I'm a little concerned. I'm praying that it's nothing serious and that whatever is wrong can be fixed, but please pray with me that all is ok and it CAN be fixed.
I'm helping with the new student orientation this week, and tonight I'll be at the Activities Fair staffing a table for small groups. It is our prayer that both current and new students will take an active part in growing in their faith by being a part of a small group. We want people to leave seminary not just with a good academic foundation, but also with a strong personal faith. We want to create new pastors who have been real and transparent with fellow believers, open to accountability, and ready to be authentic Christ-followers with their congregations. Please keep this goal in your prayers as well. We're starting on this journey, and I hope by the time I leave here there will be more things in place to help seminarians and their spouses grow in their own faith and be able to equip and lead their congregations with strength and integrity.
Well, I'm gonna go play with Lee while she's here! Thanks be to God for all He has done!
Blessings!
~Sally
