I just got home from a crazy night at church, and can't wait to get to sleep. But I am still jazzed up from church tonight, so I have decided to harness that energy and make a blog update. I hope you enjoy.
As most of you have probably read in other social outlets of my life, I started seminary back in September at the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. And I LOVE it. My plan for this semester was to go up for orientation and tell my advisor, "I am still working a full time job, and the best option for me right now is to take one online class, just to get my feet wet. Maybe in the spring I can think about taking more than one online class, but we'll have to wait and see how this semester turns out." Well, that didn't happen. My advisor turned out to be someone that has been a part of my ministry journey for several years. She was one of the leaders at "Echo" which was the camp I attended while in high school that helped students explore the possibility of ministry. So T. knows me very well. She preaches at my dad's church from time to time, and we always find a way to have lunch or dinner together when she's in town.
So, I show up for my advising appointment, speech prepared. But no sooner do I sit down with T. that she says "Kristen, is it at all possible that you could drive up to Richmond one day a week for a 2 hour class?" Ummmm....what? "Well, that depends on the day and time of the class, T. I'm not sure." Well, as fate would have it, the class meets on Tuesdays from 11-1. Tuesday is my day off at the church, and the one Tuesday I do have to be at church for a meeting, it's not until 5:30 in the evening. "Sure. I can do that."
And so my commute to Richmond began. I drive up every Tuesday in time for chapel, attend class, and then (when I can) stick around for a couple hours and hang out with some new friends. And I LOVE it. I am taking a class called "Exploring your Ministerial Identity" known among BTSR students as "Seminary 101."We are looking at what our "call" has been, what to expect while in seminary, and various things we will encounter while in ministry that don't already have whole classes dedicated to them. It's a great way to begin my seminary journey. It's very introspective, which is something that I don't spend a lot of time doing in my everyday life.
So, now the question that needs to be answered is "When am I moving to Richmond?" My gut is telling me one thing, my head another; my parents say one thing and my church wishes something different. Where the heck do I go from here?
I have talked with the school about housing on campus and am waiting to hear back from them. If I can or cannot find a place to live, that will make my decision a lot easier. So, we'll see what happens.
I hope to have a more introspective post in the next couple of days. But I first wanted to update any of you who check this (mainly Anna) on what my life is like right now.
May the grace and love of God surround you. Until next time.
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