Be Who You Is...

"Be who you is, not who you ain't. Cause if you is who you ain't, then you ain't who you is." ~Pastor Jim Lobdell

This was the message of the sermon last week on campus - delivered by one of the most dynamic preachers I have seen so far here at PLTS. And it was accompanied by GOSPEL MUSIC! ....I was in heaven.

That message has continued to resonate with me this past week as I continue to reflect...get settled...discern my call...and plow through all my readings for my Old Testament class.

It was a whirlwind of emotions leaving Massachusetts at the end of August, and when I arrived in Berkeley, I hit the ground running (literally! I have tendinitis in my right foot!) with Orientation and then classes. Any baggage - both literal as well as emotional and spiritual - that I arrived with, hadn't really gotten "unpacked."

But, by about last week, I was starting to hit my stride. I was getting used to all of my classes (and their early start times) as well re-acquainting myself with large amounts of reading assignments, homework, and...oh yeah...dorm life!

One of the things that has amazed me, is how quickly I've found a home here on campus. The PLTS staff would love to read that statement because they make a big point of that being their goal for students. But, it's true.

I have made some truly wonderful friends! If these are the future leaders of the Lutheran Church....WATCH OUT WORLD! They are passionate, intelligent, funny and oh so loving. They come from so many different backgrounds and experiences - every time they open their mouths, I feel so blessed to be here with them.

I've found a spiritual home too. It has been refreshing to feel the same kind of support and encouragement here at PLTS as I get from all of the wonderful people at Immanuel. (By the way Immanuel friends, my quilt is on my desk chair, it enfolds me every time I sit to read, write papers or just check Facebook. So many of my friends have commented not only on its beauty, but on how cool it is that you all did that for me!)

And, I think the biggest part for me in finally feeling like I've got a grip on things is a complete affirmation of my call in being here. All of you have told me, from the time I was a child, that I would make a good pastor. But, every day when I'm here, I feel an intense passion for ministry, for God and for God's community. It's so powerful it's almost hard to describe.

"Be who you is, not who you ain't. Cause if you is who you ain't, then you ain't who you is."

He was talking to me!

And he reminded all of us that sometimes people are going to try to tell you to be who you "ain't." They're going to tell you to change your thoughts, your weight, your sexuality, your class, your....

But then he told this story:

"There once was a farmer who lived next to another farmer who had a mule that was just stellar. The farmer was jealous of this mule because his mule was lack luster (Ted, it lacked....luster). So, the farmer dug a big hole on his property and then grabbed a bag of oats and dropped them in a line, making a path from the mule to the hole. And the mule followed the oats trail all the way to the hole and fell in. The farmer grabbed his shovel and began shoveling the dirt on the mule...he was going to bury the mule alive. But, did you know that mules don't like having things on their backs? So, with every shovel of dirt that the farmer heaved onto the mule, the mule would just shake it off and stomp it down. The farmer kept shoveling and shoveling, and the mule kept shaking off the dirt, stomping on it and rising a little higher...shaking it off, stomping on it, and rising a little higher. Heaving the dirt. Shaking it off. Stomping on it. And, rising higher and higher and higher, until he was on level ground and KICKED that farmer!"

Life's going to throw dirt on our backs. People are going to try to convince you to be who you "ain't". But, as Pastor Jim said, we need to "shake it off, stomp on it, and rise a little higher."

Starting the Journey: A New Chapter

Greetings world!

For my family, friends and loved ones who wish to journey with me along this exciting path in my life, here is a blog which I will do my best to update regularly. If you have suggestions on things you'd like me to write about or other comments, please let me know, and I'll do my best to include them.

I find it somewhat ironic that I literally started this new chapter of my life with a journey....a 7-day journey that brought Paul, Phil and I across 17 states (MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ, PA, OH, IA, IL, WI, MN, SD, WY, MT, ID, OR, and CA), traveled over 4,200 miles and saw landscapes and wildlife that prior to this trek had only lived in movies, books and our imagination! (I'm going to try to figure out the best way to share pictures and will let you know soon).

We arrived in San Francisco on Saturday, August 28th and Paul and Phil flew out of SFO Sunday morning at 6am...I wish I had more time to spend with them here in the city, but hopefully it makes them want to come back to see more of where I'll be living (flying here of course!).

My orientation here at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS) started Monday the 30th. I was introduced to 23 fellow first year students - some of them are transfers and Lutheran Year students, but many of them are first-year seminarians like myself. What an AMAZING group of people they are. It's an incredible feeling to be surrounded by people who have a similar passion and enthusiasm as you do - even though we're all different in many ways, we share something quite significant.

Orientation introduced us to our school, our curriculum and each other - and with each introduction I felt a stronger and stronger affirmation that this is where I'm meant to be.

Over the long weekend I spent some time in San Jose as well as here in Berkeley - I'm still not 100% used to the fact that I LIVE in California, but I'm sure I'll get there soon.

Classes started today. I just returned from Introduction to the Old Testament with Dr. Davidson....it was FANTASTIC (ask me again in a month!). My classes are: Intro to Old Testament, History of Christianity 1, Living Tradition (still not sure what that is), Intro to Greek, Reading Congregations, Intro to Pastoral Care and then we have Formations for Ministry meetings every 2 weeks as a way to check in with a faculty member and fellow students.

So it is for now, and I will be sure to update again soon. Please let me know if you want to hear about anything in particular - I'm happy to share this journey with all of you!

Peace