And So It Begins.... (or, I'm in Seminary - wooooo hoooo!)

Today may have been Tuesday, August 10th, 2010 for you, but for me it was the first day in my journey of formation to be a Priest.  After years of questioning and discerning and a summer of packing, moving, unpacking and adjusting, the first day of Seminary orientation was finally here.  David and I gathered with the other 25 people in my class (we are called "Juniors") and most spouses to begin the journey with Holy Eucharist.  We are first people of God, coming together in community to love and serve Him.  It was a beautiful, clear morning in Sewanee, and the light in the Chapel of the Apostles was exhilarating.  Our student body president, Josh Bowron, challenged us in his sermon to hold lightly who we think we are and what we are capable of doing - and Dean Stafford echoed that in his welcome.  It is already apparent that the Holy Spirit will take us all and make these 3 years so much different than we expect.

Our class seems to be a wonderful mix of people in different ages and stages of life.  I have been blessed to meet most of them as they move in, and even before that on Facebook.  Interestingly, we are evenly divided male and female, so David has many other male spouses with whom he can commiserate.   It was wonderful to finally have us all in the same place to begin connecting as a community of faith.  We will, for the most part, have all of our classes together - we even stay in the same room for our classes!

My emotions overwhelmed me today.  I woke up nervous, as is to be expected.  When we entered the Chapel for the service, I was overtaken with a sense of total elation and peace that I am exactly where God wants me to be, doing exactly what He wants me to do, and it has become the desire of my heart.  The more we talked about what is to come this year and beyond, I could barely contain my excitement.  I know, I know, I'm usually so low-key. ;)  But this is something I summarily dismissed as a possibility for my life just six years ago - yet here I am, far away from home, joyfully diving into seminary.  My girls love it here, and David is more supportive than I ever could have imagined.  Thanks be to God.