Skip to main content

10 Years Ago

10 years ago I was just beginning my second year of college; I was contemplating the change from a major in music education to religious studies with a pre-ministerial focus. On this particular day(September 11, 2011) however, I was taking my friend Juli Tilger to physical therapy for her shoulder. When we go to the center, not much therapy took place, unless you count hugging strangers as therapy...different kind of therapy than she was actually there for.
Not too many weeks later Marty CashBurless helped me make the final decision to change my major to religious studies. Without even realizing it, I think, the events of 9.11.01 influenced my final decision more than I realized at the time. More than I can even imagine now.
To serve in a vocation that calls me EVERYDAY to love my neighbor, to forgive 7 time 70, to turn the other cheek, to follow always in the footsteps of Christ...is challenging, frustrating, rewarding, and life giving. Sometimes I wonder if I made the right choice, for so long I wanted to be a band director, for so long people had helped me, taught me, directed me...seeing the hurt and pain the fear and sorrow caused by such hatred-I knew God had and still has something bigger in store for me.

We are all different than we were 10 years ago, we will be different 10 years from now. The only constant in life is that it never stays the same. Forgive, let hope in, show kindness to a stranger, learn to live in the ways of Christ...Remember the past, LIVE in the present, look toward the future with a hope-filled heart, leaning on the promises of God.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

A Prayer for the Week

picture from churchart.com My prayer this week is not my own but is a song entitled “The Blessing” by Celtic Woman. I spent the day at a spiritual retreat center and this is the song that kept coming to my mind. I wanted to share it with you (whoever reads this blog) In the morning when you rise I bless the sun, I bless the skies I bless your lips, I bless your eyes My blessing goes with you In the night time when you sleep Oh, I bless you while a watch I keep As you lie in slumber deep My blessing goes with you   This is my prayer for you There for you, ever true Each every day for you In everything you do And when you come to me And hold me close to you I bless you And you bless me too When your weary heart is tired If the world would leave you uninspired When nothing more of love's desire My blessing goes with you   When the storms of life are strong When you're wounded, when you don't belong When...

Words from the Board...Bulletin Board that is

I have a bulletin board hanging on my office wall; it has various things thumb tacked to it. At some point each of the things hanging there were important to me. I suppose since they are still hanging there even after making a 740 mile move cross country, they are still important. The things hanging on this board vary in shape, size, meaning, and appearance. A Chalice sun catcher, a map of the church, several cards from family and friends, a picture of my paternal grandparents in front of the "Arc de Triumph" during WWII, my father’s obituary, the preaching schedule, and a couple crosses…just to name a few. When I am sitting at my desk, this bulletin board is on my left; every time I glance at it the same thing catches my eye. I am always drawn to the same card. I believe I received this card at my Ordination and if memory serves I received three or four of this same card that day. The card reads; “Be who you are. Do what you love. Make a difference. Change the world.” ...

A Reflection and an Offering to Reflect

 This past Thursday November 5th, was 10 years since I posted my very first blog here. I have been very sporadic in my writing. I have not gained a huge following and that is ok with me. I started this space as a space for me. A space to reflect, to share, to my own insight(often because it differs with where the congregation I am serving stands on some things). I do hope it is a space for those who follow and those who happen upon it, are able engage in some way. Even if that engagement is to say, "I don't agree".  As I continue on my journey of becoming a spiritual director, I hope this space will become one where people can spend time in their own reflection, meditation and prayer. I hope to offer more opportunity for anyone who reads this to engage in an active prayer life.  Here is a reflective vespers service I wrote for this year's Women's retreat for the Christian Church (DOC) in the Upper Midwest. This was a closing vespers service but could be used at an...