Hi everyone.
I hope everyone who is reading this had a good Christmas break. I had it good, celebrating several Christmas' with Hofmanns and the future in-laws (now I can say it). My father and mother received new news that, regardless of the details, looks like an adventure. All us three brothers can do is wait and see what happens. This new development leaves me to contemplate what Home really means, and if I can truly have more than one. Hopefully, y'all believe me when I say that my love and thanksgiving reach all the way to Kerrville, TX.
My return from break was met with sobering news from two fellow students. May my retelling of the news add more prayers heavenward.
My roommate, on his first day back for break, was met by his fiance. That's when she returned her ring, rejecting his proposal. Whether it is 'for the best' or 'not,' it is painful. Why, how, when did they fall under untrue love's mystique? After listening (so much listening), I called my fiance and told her that I loved her and that I thank God for her and that I'll never loosen my death grip on my promise to not take it for granted.
One of my buddies has a girlfriend back home whose father was diagnosed with stage-it-doesn't-look-good cancer. My buddy is not engaged (to her), but he is met with the decision to skip a brief engagement and marry her before her father dies. She is still in school, and will be, for next year. Her father might not have that long. My buddy needs to be here, for seminary; she needs to be there, to graduate; so, if they are married. . . The point is -- is to have her father with them, so he can walk her down The Aisle.
Stacy called me the other day and told me that her Grandma passed away in a hospital in Florida. Stacy's father and step-grandpa were there, so love and byes were shared one last time before our God's hand filled her hand.
We all know this. We all know that pain reaches all of us. It reaches our homes, our churches, our seminary. A few buddies and I were out at Panera Bread near the seminary, when a young woman and her friend (also a woman of similar age) interrupted us, and, literally, asked us this question: "Can you give us any advice on finding a husband?" They knew we were students at the seminary. Four dudes eating together near the campus, comparing J. R. R. Tolkien (Lord of the Rings author) to C. S. Lewis (Chronicles of Narnia author) leaves little room for doubt. I ended up just telling her to come by the seminary sometime during an event to find a man. No better place than the seminary to find a desperate, God-fearing man. Back to my point, I don't know life's question's answers. I don't think having "R-E-V" before my name will grant me the answers either. I'm not accusing anyone for assuming that I do, but that sincere question from that young lady was of no chance. And I am not about to blame them for speaking up! What they did took a lot of guts -- "I am 30 years old, single, and desperate. Help me." Frankly, asking some seminarians how to find love is not a bad idea. And, frankly (squared), God, and his loving love nature, led those two ladies right into earshot of our nerdy-Christian convo. I don't know how to fix or what to say to my roommate, or to my other bud, or even to my own fiance! But I think I know where to tell them to ask for help from. I think having an "R-E-V" prefix is that. I know the Guy who knows the answers; the Guy who knows the answers to why you don't have the answers.
May I be blunt?
Sometimes they talk things like, "When your ministry begins . . . " I know they are referring to my 'Pastoral' Ministry, and rightly so, since I haven't started it yet. Yet it always makes me pause and say to myself, with a imaginary chuckle, that my ministry has already begun. IDK how long it's been goin' on, but it's been goin'. I know they know that I know. It's just one of those expressions at the seminary that is thrown around.
"Are you a seminary student?"
"I think so. . . "
"Good, tell me how to get married . . ."
#ministry
My seminary studies have their place, I'm not making an argument against that, just an observation that, frankly (cubed), all of us can make. Hopefully, I gave some answers (to all those hurting that I just shared with you) without even knowing. Answering answers by not being able to answer them; maybe sometimes the best way to convince us that He is in control is to allow us to struggle. And if I don't don't have the answers but don't have the answers with love, then maybe I just did my job.
May God bless the eyes, and the bodies they belong to, that read this. That is my intention, always has been, always will be. I look forward to seeing everyone again. I am having a good time here -- not studying too much. You have abundantly blessed me, and please allow my thank fullness to reach down to God's country.
Love,
Mike
