Day 43: Peace

Tonight I attended a gathering for Northeastern’s Interfaith Council.  Every other Wednesday throughout the school year, we come from each of our respective religious groups and meet together in the Sacred Space for dinner and dialogue.

This year as part of Interfaith Harmony Week, the Center for Spirituality, Dialogue, and Service sponsored three key-note speakers, co-editors of “Our Neighbors’ Faiths: Stories of Interreligious Encounter and Transformation.”  These speakers came from Christian, Jewish, and Muslim backgrounds, and together addressed interfaith dialogue through storytelling.

Tonight, we had a chance to share our own stories about crossing dividing lines with other people on the Interfaith Council.  We practiced storytelling and the act of giving and receiving a story, like a gift.  When telling stories, we have to give our time and our ear, and listen attentively in meaningful exchange. 

Telling stories help us relate to other people, even people who are different from us.  Telling stories help us build peace.

Day 42: Call

Well, I suppose it is time to make this announcement official.  I will be attending Candler School of Theology at Emory University in the fall! 

I am entering into Candler with the intention of ordination and ministry in the United Methodist Church and service in the Alaska UM Conference.  I am still exploring the ways that God is shaping my call, and I hope to tailor my vocation to focus on service to God, people, and the environment.  Though the specific type of ministry in my future is still unknown, I see this call as an extension of baptism; a venture to work full time as a laborer in God’s plentiful harvest.  I hope to serve as an active leader in Christian faith formation to develop intentional global citizens, while also delving into deeper conversations about the complex issues surrounding science and religion.

I am very excited to join the community at Candler, and to live out my call to ministry through seminary.  It was not an easy decision to make, but I am confident that God will walk with me through the process.  I’m so thankful to have friends and family to support me along the way!

Love you all :)

Day 41: Live

I’m sure you’ve heard it said that sunflowers turn to face the sun.  Regardless of the validity of this claim, it is worth considering for our purposes of Lent.  Indeed, many plants are characterized by varying degrees of heliotropism, turning leaves, stems, and flowers to track the sun and maximize photosynthesis.  These plants are doing everything in their power to live.

Our desire to live permeates nearly every aspect of our lives.  We eat, sleep, exercise, work, and play to live.  Our very desires themselves were designed to keep us and our families alive.  God created us to live.  God created us to enjoy life and to give praise for life!

Like the sunflower, during Lent we turn to face our life-giving creator.  We focus our attention on God, tracking through the day and through the wilderness, knowing that God’s sustaining presence nurtures and provides life, now and always.

I need a bigger pot...