Initial Seminary Thoughts

I just finished seminary not even a week ago and I have started the process of stepping away and reflecting on it, I wanted to share some of those thoughts with you. The first one is self-starting. I am a person who likes management. I like being told what I need to accomplish to say that this, that or the other is complete. It had been a real problem for me when I was working in para-church ministry. I was in an “office” alone and would have trouble knowing when to start a project and how to prioritize. It only took one quarter of school to expose bad habits and to begin to deal with them. I had a teacher once tell me not to teach my best subject or I will lack compassion for those who struggle. Well if anyone wants lessons on self-starting I am pretty sure you will get nothing but empathy from me, but also hope that there can be victory.

While in Seminary I also gained new respect for those who travel to a brick and mortar school. I have not travel time in my classes except the time it took to boot my computer. Those of you who spent or are spending hours in a car getting back and forth you have my deepest respect. Know this, as lucky as it may seem for me that I did not travel the tradeoff was never meeting fellow seminarians and sharing the experience of this great journey with them.

For the end of this post let me say something about weekly planning, most military folks will tell you that the first casualty of war is the plan. I found this to be true. No matter how well I had a week planned it never seemed to work out how I had hoped. This does not mean I gave up planning. I heard once that you plan to fail not fail to plan. As much as I hate pithy bumper sticker sayings I went ahead and followed this advice. If I had not I do not know that I would have finished as strong. Not only that but in two and half years I have never pulled an all-nighter.

Finally I need to say a few thank you:

Grace UMC- Thank you for crossing the finish line with me. I think we have had a great 14 months but at times it lacked some polish due to a split attention. You now have my full attention.

Central UMC- The things I learned as a part of this community, especially in friendship with Paul Risler and Jim Jennings.

J.C. Collins- Your mentorship at the end is what helped me finish a couple of times where I had all but given up.

Liberty Baptist Seminary- This could not have happened if you had not offered something so affordable and accessible.

Nathan Cantu- Thanks for turning me on to L.B.S.

My Dad- for helping me financially through the process.

The good people at Amazon for the Kindle- you have no idea how awesome that search feature is when you are taking an open book exam on the imprecatory Psalms.

Finally to Heather and Isabel Costa- For late nights grading papers, for my constant absences, especially when I was absent yet in the room. For tolerating my grumpiness. Sweetie if you had not been praying for me, taking care of me, crying with me, reading my papers this could just not have happened. I love you.