Today began with my thoughts going back to eight years ago, to the day of my graduation from theological school with my master’s of divinity degree. The feelings I remember from that day was the sense of accomplishment and anticipation, of walking across the stage feeling almost as if I was in a dream, and receiving the academic hood for my degree, a feeling of euphoria and joy washes over me and it feels real good, success. I know and feel what it is to have success.  

That was eight years ago, today I am a bit older but perhaps a bit wiser too. Much has happened since then, much has changed, life has happened, and life has changed me. Not all of it has been for the good, but not all have been bad either, not even the bad has been all bad, because God lets nothing go to waste, and so looking at it from that perspective I guess you can say life has been very good for the past eight years.  And so I begin today feeling grateful for these years, for my degree, and for where I am today.

What has my life been like since then, will ordained as a Priest, I have been in Parish ministry for these eight years, moved for the third time only recently to a new community/parish so right now I  am going through a bit of transition. We no longer have our own home and for these eight years have lived in Parish housing, and that is a bit of a transition in itself in that you don’t get to make the decisions, as to when and how things need to be done, who fixes things, what changes or improvements need to be done or what you would like to do. These decisions all go before the council and while you have a say in them, they are not always what you want or would like to do. So you learn to accept these things and live with them.  Living in a parish home has also been a learning curve in that while it is yours to live in While there, it also functions as the parish office, it is a place of work, and so not your private residence. Being an introvert as I am, someone who likes to have quiet time, spend time alone, especially when I spend a lot of time with people, having people come to your home, sometimes at inconvenient times, hasn’t been easy to adapt to, but it’s getting better. I have met and ministered to and with many people over these eight years, some will always stay with me, for the way in which they have touched my life and I theirs, others will be those I chanced upon during the course of my time with them, and more will be those I just happened to cross paths with, some will stay, some will go. But I do believe in all things God is, and so we should always ask what in this our time together has been good. The most wonderful thing that has happened to me over these eight years is I have become a grandmother, I now have two beautiful grandchildren and they add something wonderful to life, and it is a joy to watch them grow and experience life, I love them dearly. I feel blessed.

“Trust the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5,6)