Wishes and timing

If things had gone as I had planned over two years ago, today I would have marched across a stage at VTS to receive the degree of Master of Theological Studies.

But they didn't. So instead of marching across the stage in Virginia, I ran back and forth between my bathroom and my computer in South Dakota to watch at least the start of the commencement ceremony while I finished getting ready for work. I got teary eyed but the knowledge I had mascara on my eyelashes kept me from all out boo hoos.

I try to keep in mind that God's will is much more important than my will. God's timing is much better than my timing. Who knows? I may get to return some day to finish. I doubt it, but at the same time the wind of the Holy Spirit blows where it will, so it may happen.

Meanwhile, it was cool to see my buddy Beth O'C serve as crucifer for the ceremony. My friend AMH earned a preaching award--something I'd heard she did well, but have not had the privilege of hearing. It was just fun to finish up the webcast later and see so many of my friends on this august day.

And if you get a chance to listen to the webcast on the VTS website, the Rev Dr. Roger Ferlo delivered a magnificent commencement address/sermon. It starts ~ 10-15 minutes into the broadcast and lasts approx 25 minutes. It is well worth the time. If I can figure out how to get a copy of that sermon for my own, I'd love to have it.

Now off to bed as I have to be at work at 7 in the morning!

Glitch in VTS webcast

I decided to download and watch the service for mission that was held earlier this evening at VTS, a place at which I once studied for a Master of Theological Studies. It took 15 or so minutes to download, but I didn't see the Presiding Bishop, as was advertised--I saw a scantly clad young woman being whipped with a rod.

The hackers win again.

Since I can't watch the commencement tomorrow morning due to work, I'll have to download that to watch later as well. I really hope I don't have to watch something like the above again!

Ruminations

Had a great trip to BOS. Sorry, Taciturn, I did not miss you one minute. I love the seminary and the folks there and it was great to immerse myself in that atmosphere again. I was so busy visiting that it seemed like I hardly slept.

Beth O'C helped me to put words to something with which I had not dealt. Thanks, my dear friend.

It was just great to be with people who know me as I am instead of how some wish I would be. I strive for authenticity and BOS was/is the one place where I totally could be myself.

But alas, back to Real Life. I came back Monday. T and I needed to stop at the store on the way home from the airport; we went to a Safeway and strolled in just in time to see an elderly man collapsing at the checkout. We hurried over; he was awake but his leg was askew. T took charge of the situation and suggested that this man get an xray. He was taken away; the store manager caught up with us a bit later to tell T that the man indeed had broken his hip. Yeek.

Yesterday I was in a DIA meeting and one of the members went down. I ran over and held up her legs. She moaned and her eyes rolled back into her head. Oh SHIT, I thought, and then someone came over to help me. The woman still had a pulse and came to pretty quickly--she had just taken a nitro tablet. We got her to the hospital.

And today, I was in a Target and someone tried to pick my purse. I had noticed a woman of my age and ethnic background hanging around me. I was preparing to turn and tell her she was too close when she put her hand into my purse! Luckily, I keep my wallet in a zippered compartment and had an umbrella over the compartment in which I keep my keys and phone. I screamed at her and she disappeared.

I should go back to the BIG CITY, where my husband is so afraid something will happen, so I can rest.

In the Air

I miss my pals at what Mibi calls Big Old Seminary. Many of them are going to scatter in 6 or 7 weeks to the Four Winds, so I'm headed on Northwest Airlines to DCA tomorrow morning, fairly early, so I can get to Our Nation's Capital prior to Rush Hour (more like Rush Half a Day, but I digress). I want to see Mibi, Beth O'C, AMH, and several others especially.

I found out today that my pal BB's baby shower will be held while I'm there, and I'm invited!!! I'm thrilled beyond words. I really like BB and am honored to share this special event with her. Besides, I bet lots of my pals will be at the shower, so I'll get to see many folks.

HOWEVER, I'm a tad nervous about two things. One, several airlines have grounded huge chunks of their schedules for inspections. I hope NWA doesn't do that, but my calendar is fairly free in case it happens, so it wouldn't be the worst thing. Two, we have a heavy snow warning for tonight, and I live near the top of a four mile high canyon. I have AWD and really good tires, but still the idea of driving to the airport in 6 inches of snow down a very long hill gives me pause. We'll see how things are in the morning.

Gotta run and continue to prepare for this trip!

Thanks

Thanks to all who supported me after my last post--FranIam, for posting, and to many others who sent me private emails. I was kind of in pieces for a few days afterwards, but am better now.

It helped to visit with a friend from church who also is of Native American ancestry--1/32 to my 1/4--but whose mother in law treats her dismissively due to that. She also no longer goes to visit. Her husband takes the kids and goes by himself. I wonder if this woman realizes that her grandchildren have Native American blood, or is 1/64 dilute enough for her?

I've decided to use some frequent flier miles and go to BOS (as Mibi calls it) to ground myself and see old pals. I'll go probably the second week of April.

AND...congrats to both Mibi and another seminary pal, Patrick P, for their nominations to represent BOS at a national preaching competition. I listened to an audio stream of Patrick P preaching on the Transfiguration a few weeks ago--wonderful! Mibi puts her texts on her blog and they read well; I'd love to actually hear her preach them!

We can announce the official call of our new priest. We elected him almost two weeks ago, but the announcement was held up due to some paperwork, which now is complete. He is a big teddy bear of a man, incredibly friendly and very grounded in Scripture and prayer. The Celebration of a New Ministry will be at the end of April.

I spoke to Only Son on the phone last night. He wants to borrow some money in order to invest in gold. I told him to call Taciturn today to talk about it. I don't think borrowing in order to invest is a good thing, but who am I? T knows more about that kind of stuff.

This just in...

Dr. Ian Markham was named 14th Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary. You can read the news here.