New Semester

Reading Thomas a Kempis for the first time ever -- fascinating 14th-15th c. theologian. Have Bonhoeffer's bio by Renate Wind also to read. Taking 4 courses feels much more freeing than taking 5, and it seems I have scheduled no classes for Fridays this semester. (This occurred totally accidentally, as I went to the Registrar and dropped & added courses three times!) Went yesterday to visit an ailing friend (in her 80's) in the hospital. Good to see her, and fun to do a hospital visitation again, not as a chaplain this time, though. And, stopped to pray for her in the chapel on the way out (booted out of her room by 2 nurses who were free right then to wash her), and then ran into another friend who was also leaving the hospital at that moment. Had I not stopped to pray, would not have bumped into that friend. And keeping in mind that this hospital is more than an hour away from my seminary home, it was a pleasant surprise to run into anyone I knew, besides the patient I had come to see! Marital problems continue -- husband says he does not want to be a pastor's spouse -- not sure what to pray for right now. Hard to envision where I will be (and what my life will be like) in 5 years (or even 5 months!) from now.

Roe v. Wade

Today is the 33rd anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision upholding a woman's right to choose. Tonight we hosted a worship service honoring the anniversary. I am the moderator of the pro-choice group on campus. We had a small gathering of committed souls and I think it was a heart-warming service. One friend told me I shouldn't preach (I wonder if she thought I would get "preachy" on this issue), but I had not planned to preach -- we prayed and sang and read real women's stories about how they came to their decision on this issue. It went well.

Other news: today was the start of my last M.Div. semester. Had 2 classes today -- 1 a history course (16th c. Reformation) which I think will be very tough -- and 1 a theology course dealing with Revelation post-holocaust and post-9/11, which seems very good and interesting. My Bonhoeffer ethics course and worship in the Reformed tradition start tomorrow.

Still lots of familial troubles at home -- not sure how much I want to share online -- lots of stress but also want to maintain some anonymity (just in case). A 6-year-old from our home church was killed last week in a car accident; that has been difficult to cope with from afar (from my end). Did get up to see the grieving family and that met my needs to grieve as well. Also my little one is on crutches with a "locked" knee. We are awaiting MRI results and contemplating possible arthroscopic surgery -- yikes!

My brother got to see me preach a few weeks ago -- guest preacher in a church near him -- first time for him to see me in that role -- he was quite supportive and it was great to catch up with him a bit. That's all for now!