I got to see life from "the other side" on Tuesday. That's when a reporter and photographer from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel visitied campus. The reporter spent an entire day here talking to all kinds of folks, and from what I understand is still talking to people across the country about the seminary. It was fun to see the interviews unfold, and to hear from others some of the directions some of the questions. The reported was certainly thorough and balanced. I am very curious to see what angle is taken. I, too, was interviewed, but don't think my comments will be included, since I didn't have anything new to say. Also, there are so many angles that could be covered, my guess is that the student comments will only be a tiny part of the story.
The photographer who was here on Tuesday, and returned for matins on Thursday, is from Ripon. He graduated from high school a year before me. And, when we were young children our families lived back to back for a coucple of years. It is a small world.
It was fun to be watching the reporter and students and faculty and staff interact. Some things never change!
Oh, I understand the article will most likely run on Sunday, Oct. 30.
PRAYER CONCERNS
SICK: Mona, Christian, Mary Ellen, Sally, Jake,Joe, Sue, Mike.
OTHERS: The people of the dioceses of Eau Claire and Fond du Lac as they prepare to vote on the issue of junctioning.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
New Duds!
I'm getting excited for my potential ordination to the diaconate (God Willing and People consenting) in December.
I placed an order order today for an alb, the kind with lace insert near the bottom of the alb and the bottom of the sleeves, a rope cincture belt and an amice (the cloth that protects vestments from perspiration and makeup. I also ordered three clergy shirts. One in each of three styles. I'll see which neck style I like and if I like the tunicle style for women. Given my long arms, I went with short sleeves in the two styles I could do that, and long in the tunicle.
There were so many decisions to make regarding style of alb, and then style of collar on the clergy shirts: do I want full collar or tab collar? Decisions, decisions, decisions.
It is all so exciting. It's true that clothes don't make a person, but they can set a tone, and new clothes are always fun.
I placed an order order today for an alb, the kind with lace insert near the bottom of the alb and the bottom of the sleeves, a rope cincture belt and an amice (the cloth that protects vestments from perspiration and makeup. I also ordered three clergy shirts. One in each of three styles. I'll see which neck style I like and if I like the tunicle style for women. Given my long arms, I went with short sleeves in the two styles I could do that, and long in the tunicle.
There were so many decisions to make regarding style of alb, and then style of collar on the clergy shirts: do I want full collar or tab collar? Decisions, decisions, decisions.
It is all so exciting. It's true that clothes don't make a person, but they can set a tone, and new clothes are always fun.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
What happens when your brain gets full?
I have finally figured out why I forget things. It's because my brain is too full. Contrary to popular opinion that your brain explodes when it is overloaded, my experience is that I just plain forget.
I am definitely experiencing that right now. I'm trying to take 15 minutes a day to study for the General Ordination Exams in January. During that time there will be seven questions to be answered. We get half a day for each question. We are only allowed minimal resources -- Bible, hymnal and Prayer Book.The rest has to come from our heads. So, I am reviewing and trying to determine what areas I'm stronger in.
It came as no surprise to me that its the practical and analytical areas where my brain functions best. History, facts and dates are the areas where I get hung up.
I am actually having fun doing this review because I am surprised at how much I have learned, (and forgotten) since I've been at seminary.
PRAYER CONCERNS
SICK: Mona, Kari, Mary Ellen, Jake, Joe,
OTHER: Kathy, Jim, The members of the dioceses of Fond du Lac and Eau Claire.
I am definitely experiencing that right now. I'm trying to take 15 minutes a day to study for the General Ordination Exams in January. During that time there will be seven questions to be answered. We get half a day for each question. We are only allowed minimal resources -- Bible, hymnal and Prayer Book.The rest has to come from our heads. So, I am reviewing and trying to determine what areas I'm stronger in.
It came as no surprise to me that its the practical and analytical areas where my brain functions best. History, facts and dates are the areas where I get hung up.
I am actually having fun doing this review because I am surprised at how much I have learned, (and forgotten) since I've been at seminary.
PRAYER CONCERNS
SICK: Mona, Kari, Mary Ellen, Jake, Joe,
OTHER: Kathy, Jim, The members of the dioceses of Fond du Lac and Eau Claire.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Which way?
I'm tired of getting lost!
I suppose you could tell me to get a GPS. That would help, but wouldn't solve the problem. I've determined that the root cause of my getting lost while driving is the placement of street/road signs.
It would be nice to be able to look at one place at each intersection to know what street I'm crossing.
For example, I was in Madison a few weeks back. At the first intersection I came to the street sign was on the south east corner, so I got into the left lane so I could see the sign at the next intersection.
Wrong move, this time it was on the north east side, and a sign small enough and at an angle I couldn't see until I got right up there and too late to change lanes. Thus I went a block or two too far and then encountered one way streets that made my track onto the correct path a bit of a challenge.
Then just a week or two ago I was traveling on some of the rural roads around here. The signs were often across the intersection of a wide, busy street. In that case I twice crossed an intersection, getting half way across and realizing I should have turned, not something I could do without messing up traffic and a car or two.
So, I'm on a one-woman campaign to have uniform location of all street signs. Any takers?
Prayer Concerns:
For physical healing: Mike, Mona, Mary Ellen
I suppose you could tell me to get a GPS. That would help, but wouldn't solve the problem. I've determined that the root cause of my getting lost while driving is the placement of street/road signs.
It would be nice to be able to look at one place at each intersection to know what street I'm crossing.
For example, I was in Madison a few weeks back. At the first intersection I came to the street sign was on the south east corner, so I got into the left lane so I could see the sign at the next intersection.
Wrong move, this time it was on the north east side, and a sign small enough and at an angle I couldn't see until I got right up there and too late to change lanes. Thus I went a block or two too far and then encountered one way streets that made my track onto the correct path a bit of a challenge.
Then just a week or two ago I was traveling on some of the rural roads around here. The signs were often across the intersection of a wide, busy street. In that case I twice crossed an intersection, getting half way across and realizing I should have turned, not something I could do without messing up traffic and a car or two.
So, I'm on a one-woman campaign to have uniform location of all street signs. Any takers?
Prayer Concerns:
For physical healing: Mike, Mona, Mary Ellen
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Liberal or conservative?
I've decided the words "liberal" and conservative" should be removed from common use.
Why? Because I'm confused.
The words often have opposite meaning in terms of the secular and religious worlds.
For example, the topic of discussion in my Ethics and Moral Theology Class for the past two weeks has been environmental issues.
When it comes to the environment, I am a conservative, theologically, but a liberal politically. Now that's confusing. With other issues it can be the opposite. When one is described as a liberal or conservative, I'm never quite sure what that means.
I remember having a conversation with my priest about five years ago and said I thought he was a study of opposites because he was a conservative theologically and a liberal politically, on specific issues, that is. I couldn't understand how that could be.
I now understand how that happens, but it doesn't make any sense to me, or help de-confuse me.
Back to the environment. In just a few words, conservative theology view is that one is to protect the resources and all of nature by using them as God intended and not to extremes. In the secular world, one who is cautious regarding the environment, is likely classified a liberal.
I could go on and on with examples, but I would still conclude the same. Any suggestions?
PRAYER CONCERNS:
For healing: Mike, James, Clayton
For support: Mike's siblings, Ruth, Heather
For comfort: Krista, Nathan, Lars,
Why? Because I'm confused.
The words often have opposite meaning in terms of the secular and religious worlds.
For example, the topic of discussion in my Ethics and Moral Theology Class for the past two weeks has been environmental issues.
When it comes to the environment, I am a conservative, theologically, but a liberal politically. Now that's confusing. With other issues it can be the opposite. When one is described as a liberal or conservative, I'm never quite sure what that means.
I remember having a conversation with my priest about five years ago and said I thought he was a study of opposites because he was a conservative theologically and a liberal politically, on specific issues, that is. I couldn't understand how that could be.
I now understand how that happens, but it doesn't make any sense to me, or help de-confuse me.
Back to the environment. In just a few words, conservative theology view is that one is to protect the resources and all of nature by using them as God intended and not to extremes. In the secular world, one who is cautious regarding the environment, is likely classified a liberal.
I could go on and on with examples, but I would still conclude the same. Any suggestions?
PRAYER CONCERNS:
For healing: Mike, James, Clayton
For support: Mike's siblings, Ruth, Heather
For comfort: Krista, Nathan, Lars,
Monday, August 22, 2011
Life's a sermon
It seems that now that I'm about to begin my final year of seminary, everything that happens, everything I do is fodder for a sermon.
I think the days of being a "normal" person may be over.
For instance, Friday night I went to Logan's (my nephew) football game. As I struggled between trying to keep my eye on Logan and on the ball, I realized that that's what life is all about. If the game is being played correctly, theoretically I shouldn't see the two in the same circle of vision. Logan, as an offensive line player, should be keeping his target player out of range of the person with the ball. Just like life, we don't see trouble when it's coming, but we want to be as far away as possible. Such sermon posssibilities. By the way, Marquette won, outscoring Wisconsin Lutheran 27-20.
Then on Saturday I attended the wedding of the son of some dear friends. There were many things that occurred that day that would make wonderful wedding sermons. But what struck me most was something the father of the groom sort of said during his toast to the newlyweds. He told of their son, who he and his wife adopted as an infant, as being a failure-to-thrive baby. The child, with the help of a good medical team and loving support from all corners did thrive and lives life as a wonderful, caring adult. The unsaid, implied message by the dad was that marriages may have tough times too, perhaps times when it seems like it may be a failure to thrive, but with love and support from all corners, that too will thrive and be a beautiful thing.
See what I mean, there is always a message and a lesson in everything we see, say or do.
Prayer Corner: Thanksgiving for successful surgery for Mary; prayers of healing for Denny; prayers of comfort for Jean; prayers of healing for Christian; safe travel for Mary; a successful and insightful school year for all students; and loving guidance and support for the Delaney family as it embarks on the adventure of seminary.
I think the days of being a "normal" person may be over.
For instance, Friday night I went to Logan's (my nephew) football game. As I struggled between trying to keep my eye on Logan and on the ball, I realized that that's what life is all about. If the game is being played correctly, theoretically I shouldn't see the two in the same circle of vision. Logan, as an offensive line player, should be keeping his target player out of range of the person with the ball. Just like life, we don't see trouble when it's coming, but we want to be as far away as possible. Such sermon posssibilities. By the way, Marquette won, outscoring Wisconsin Lutheran 27-20.
Then on Saturday I attended the wedding of the son of some dear friends. There were many things that occurred that day that would make wonderful wedding sermons. But what struck me most was something the father of the groom sort of said during his toast to the newlyweds. He told of their son, who he and his wife adopted as an infant, as being a failure-to-thrive baby. The child, with the help of a good medical team and loving support from all corners did thrive and lives life as a wonderful, caring adult. The unsaid, implied message by the dad was that marriages may have tough times too, perhaps times when it seems like it may be a failure to thrive, but with love and support from all corners, that too will thrive and be a beautiful thing.
See what I mean, there is always a message and a lesson in everything we see, say or do.
Prayer Corner: Thanksgiving for successful surgery for Mary; prayers of healing for Denny; prayers of comfort for Jean; prayers of healing for Christian; safe travel for Mary; a successful and insightful school year for all students; and loving guidance and support for the Delaney family as it embarks on the adventure of seminary.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Another year, another blog attempt
As I prepare for another school year, my third, and supposedly final, at Nashotah House Seminary, I have decided to try the blog again. I am feeling much stronger than I did a year ago. In fact, when folks ask what I did this summer my favorite response is "get healthy." And that is very true. I have dedicated myself to getting healthy and trying to resolve any lingering issues from the dasderdly bad health that found its way into my body two years ago. While there are still a few residual concerns, I for the most part am healthy and believe I can say with full confidence that I have more energy and feel much stronger than I did two years ago.
I made a commitment to myself after my last hospitalization in May that I would be as healthy as possible come the start of classes in September. I did that by praying the daily office three times a day, allowing myself time for nine hours of sleep a night, if that is what my body needed, resting, moderate exercise, resting, reading, seeking answers from doctors, resting, following doctors' advice and, RESTING. It worked and I am now very excited and energized to start another year of classes.
As I considered resuming this blog, I thought about what I wanted to do with it and what's important to me. In addition to writing of my adventures, I hope to add a prayer corner to each blog. Please, if you feel so inclined, share via e-mail, or blog comment, any prayer concerns you have and I will list them at the end of the next post.
Prayer Concerns
Calmness and confidence for Mary as she prepares for surgery; knowing the presence of the Holy Spirit for Jackie as she accepts her mother's death; safe travel for Roy; safe travel for Mark; safe travel for Shane, safe travel and moving preparations for Jane and Jill; physical healing for Logan; support for Nashotah's new dean, Dean Salmon; for Ryan and his family as he prepares to join the ranks as a Nashotah seminarian.
I made a commitment to myself after my last hospitalization in May that I would be as healthy as possible come the start of classes in September. I did that by praying the daily office three times a day, allowing myself time for nine hours of sleep a night, if that is what my body needed, resting, moderate exercise, resting, reading, seeking answers from doctors, resting, following doctors' advice and, RESTING. It worked and I am now very excited and energized to start another year of classes.
As I considered resuming this blog, I thought about what I wanted to do with it and what's important to me. In addition to writing of my adventures, I hope to add a prayer corner to each blog. Please, if you feel so inclined, share via e-mail, or blog comment, any prayer concerns you have and I will list them at the end of the next post.
Prayer Concerns
Calmness and confidence for Mary as she prepares for surgery; knowing the presence of the Holy Spirit for Jackie as she accepts her mother's death; safe travel for Roy; safe travel for Mark; safe travel for Shane, safe travel and moving preparations for Jane and Jill; physical healing for Logan; support for Nashotah's new dean, Dean Salmon; for Ryan and his family as he prepares to join the ranks as a Nashotah seminarian.
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