some thoughts on graduation…

tonight at dinner, my grandpa (who paid for a good 25% of my M.Div) said that i am now qualified to pray for dinner for the whole family after graduating from Talbot.

it hasn’t fully sunk in. i didn’t invite that many people because i thought the winter graduation would be small/lame. it was anything but. it was a BEAUTIFUL ceremony with a challenging address from Roberta Ahmanson. i didn’t want too many people to come, not to be lame, but because i’m starting to hate attention. i get really awkward involving anything where i’m at the center (other than leading worship or preaching) and i try and avoid those situations as best as possible.

what i learned was that as a pastor, you can’t do that. you have to share your life with people. you have to share your joys and your successes because you are no longer your own person. you belong to God first and foremost, but you also belong to those whom you minister to. it’s part of the deal. i sent out a lame email to friends from church/ccm hoping they wouldn’t show up, and i was very happy that they did not comply with my wishes. God never fails to amaze me with the quality of people he has placed in my life.

it has been the longest, most difficult 4.5 years of my life, but i am now hooded. i know we like to say we’ve lived life with no regrets, but that’s just not true. i’ve made decisions during this process that were not good for me personally and i’m eager to take some time and get my mind right in the coming weeks.

that being said, it is now time to go and serve the Lord with the wonderful education that He has given me. if you read this, thank you for being part of the journey and supporting me because whether you think you have or not, you have helped me through these long 4.5 years. though utterly confused, i’m looking forward to the future and what God has in store!