As Sunday approaches I have been thinking quite a bit about the process and how I arrived in New Orleans. 1. I thought the search process would have taken place quicker. 2. I did not know what I really wanted until I interviewed with two or three churches. 3. I was surprised at how steep the learning curve was as I journeyed through. 4. I am glad it took as long as it did. 5. I am glad I did not rush the process and kept waiting till I found a right fit. 6. As bizarre as it may seem to thank other search committees, thank you. I talked with one member of a search committee yesterday. I thanked the person for the experience and informed them that if I had not interviewed with them I would not have had the clarity needed to engage the congregation. The person also said the search committee would not have been able to call the person they did unless they had interviewed me. It is a two-way process, dialogue and journey.
I was sad, and still am, to leave the folk from Rhode Island, but I am glad to be where I am today. My family is glad - even though it has been a tough journey for all of us.
6 comments:
I am pleased for you and the congregation.
These words from a poem by L. Pastan come to mind:
"But what we want appears
in dreams, wearing disguises.
We fall past,
holding out our arms
and in the morning
our arms ache.
We don't remember the dream,
but the dream remembers us.
It is there all day
as an animal is there
under the table,
as the stars are there
even in full sun."
Bill Rogers
Bill,
Many thanks. i think it will be a fun day. i am enjoying the congregation.
I'm so excited for you. I've wondered over the past couple of years where you ended up. We're up in Juneau, AK for a year now and loving it. Hard to leave folks you love, but it's been a good call. Blessings to you and your family in this new journey.
Well well well. I heard that a BTSR classmate was the new pastor of St Charles and at first - please forgive me - the name did not ring a bell. I have an almost purely visual memory and can hardly remember names (of people, streets, authors, and so on).
So I decided it was time to see who this person is. Did a "bing" search.
Oh yes. I remember him very well. We used to eat lunch together, sit next to each other in class, gripe and complain about certain core BTSR courses (no names - not here). Welcome to Louisiana!
Look forward to seeing you again face to face and catching up on the interesting last 11 years we have had.
Rick,
Look forward to catching up with you soon.
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