Stop & think about that for a moment. Maybe for you it's nothing. I've definitely had moments of the last year that I really didn't feel God doing much - and it honestly scared me and angered me quite a bit. Maybe God is puking love all around you in a new life of marriage or a new job or town to be part in. Maybe God is holding you still where you are and keeping life quiet. Whether we realize it or not, God is all around and in everything and everyone.
My mind wondered to this place because yet again Z & I find ourselves in a time of transition. Two weeks from today we say g'bye to our Northwoods home & move back to graduate school for our senior year. As we transition, naturally we reflect. In the postings about diakonia there was one person that put a stop to what had been - and thankfully continued to be - a fruitful conversation about the knowledge in local parishes about the communities of Diaconal Ministry, Deaconess, & Associates in Ministry. Often over the past number of years - even before starting seminary - I have wondered why I was called to Diaconal Ministry/a ministry that is misunderstood & often simply not known. I've come to understand the struggle of the understanding as our numbers are fewer in all 3 rosters compared to the roster of pastor, but also because in all 3 rosters (Diaconal Minister (DM), Deaconess, & Associates in Minister (AIM)) our calls are to Word & Service. Word & Service is a broad definition, but it focuses on the ministries served by DMs, Deaconesses, & AIMs. In a sense all people - as the body of Christ - are called to Word & Service ministry. We are all called to work in bridging the world in which we live and the church in which we worship.
Z & I are both preparing for our final evaluations of our year of internship/field work as well as our final major essay for the candidacy process in the ELCA, known as the "approval essay." As we transition, reflect, & plan for our future careers in ministry I am blown away by the Spirit & the reassurance that God is with me as I was, am, and will be. How do I know this? Through the faith gifted to me by God on account of Jesus in the Holy Spirit. Also through the constant love of the larger family of Jesus. We recently returned from our vacation to CA for LSquared's wedding - which was wonderful & beautiful - and got to spend some great time with my side of our family. Then we returned & got showered with some love from Pa & Ma N & then we drove back to our intern site one last time before we move & have been over come with the support & love of congregants & coworkers. All of these people have impacted our last year of being interns & will forever be with us in our memories if nothing more.
Thank you Lord for your call to service in your Word!
