Well, to all of you whom may be following this sporadic posting of my thoughts on the journey to Ordination: here we are!
Four months to go! Amazing, and there is no guarantee I'll get to the end (11 Dec 2010 - 10 AM, St. Louis Cathedral, New Orleans, LA). Only prayer, effort and God's grace will get me to the end of this part of the journey. If He wills it, then it will be so.
Strange, that now it is so close it still seems so far away. I mean, I have been at this (or will have been at this) for 6 years and a month, if all comes to pass. I have had my share of doubts (as I am sure have all ordinands, priestly or diaconial) and still feel that this is the most right thing I have ever done (except for my marriage - that was the best decision of my life).
If this is truly what God wills for me, I am looking forward to actually being in ministry as one of God's deacons.
The journey has been extremely satisfying, challenging and full of growth. I am not the same person I was when we started this journey: 21 Nov 04! Yep, that's right, pre-Katrina and interrupted by Katrina for a full year (ours is not the only class interrupted by Katrina: the 06 class was interrupted for 6 months and the 08 and us, 2010, were interrupted for a whole year).
God writes with with crooked lines!
Back to this semester! Homiletics and practicums. We must be ready and fully formed to be one of God's deacons. We have a heavy load this, the last semester. I, for one, am ready. For the academic part of this. The practical side, I'm not so sure.
I have been privileged to have a great mentor, Deacon Butch Shartle! He has been my sure guide and has offered very sage and Spirit filled advice. In this last year and a half he has allowed me to be a part of two of his funeral services and I have actually conducted a grave side service myself. What a privilege!
God, in His infinite wisdom, knew what I needed when this formation process started for real (Oct 06).
Please pray for me and my wife as we get to the end of this part of the journey!
