The Story Lives On

As I encounter different stories, whether reading them or hearing them, I realize more and more that the story lives on. There is power in story-telling. Stories are dynamic and ever-changing.

I recently had two different people tell me how I am part of their stories and how thankful they are for me. I was humbled and it reminded me of the people that are part of my story and how thankful that I am for them.  I do not tell these people enough that they are indeed part of my story and how grateful I am to them for investing in me. There is power in sharing. As these people have shared with me, I want to share with others.

I am thankful for my story and the larger story that I am part of as God is working in my life and others.

Every Beginning Starts With an End

The last chapel service of the Spring semester is always about the graduating seniors. Maybe I have not gone  to the other services in years past or just could not remember them, but for some reason, this year's service was emotional for me. I teared up several times. I don't tear up.

It was challenging because all I could think was that I was next. I am entering into a time of my "lasts" here at Campbell Divinity school. That is a challenging thought for me because this place is my home. I have spent hours sitting in classrooms listening to professors lectures, hours sitting in offices talking with the staff about life, hours studying and spending time with fellow classmates in joy and laughter, or angst over upcoming tests and papers. There is a community of faith and strength that will not be forgotten. But, the journey continues. For new beginnings to happen, something must end. I will be sad to see my time here at Campbell as a student come to an end, but I know that wherever I go next, I can always return home to Campbell Divinity School.

"You can go other places, all right-you can live on the other side of the world, but you can't ever leave home." 

-Sue Monk Kidd

Fishy

There is a miraculous story in John 21 about fishermen catching fish after working all night and catching nothing but after Jesus told them to do it again, they caught so many fish their nets almost break. Here's the thing: they didn't have time to be picky! The nets were so full that the fishermen brought the boat immediately.

The fishermen did not get to pick out what fish they thought would be acceptable or not. They were just supposed to bring the load to shore, to where Jesus was. I was reminded that as Christians, we are not called to clean the fish. We think it is. We think we have the right to pass judgment against people. We fail to realize that we need cleaning too! We are just called to catch and embrace. We are to bring ourselves and others into the presence of God. Jesus is the caretaker, not us.

John 20 reminds me of the call to embrace. We are called to embrace all people and love them with the love that God has shown us. We are to embrace others as we have been embraced. We are to share the warmth that we feel in God's presence. We are to be a light. We need to remember that though we are a light, we are not the source of the light. God is. May we shine like the light that we are called to be and bring others to the source of light so that they may shine as well!

Good Conversation

It's amazing what a good conversation can do. It can change your whole perspective. It can even change your whole life.

One simple conversation can turn a blah day into a great day. It can affirm that you are in the right place at this time in your life.

As a minister and a person, I want to strive to be a listener who is present for each person so that I am able to affirm them. Maybe that one conversation we have can change their perspective.

Lost

I am constantly losing things. I can't help it. I told a friend tonight, "I'm not losing things. They're losing me." While my things may be lost, I do not feel lost. For now. I'm thankful for this season in my life where I know I am right where I am supposed to be. This season will be coming to an end soon, and that scares me. I will probably feel lost. But that's ok. Because I know I will eventually find my place. And I can take comfort in knowing that even though I may feel lost, there is one who will never lose me. The journey is not about where I end up but about where I am right now.