A few days have passed since my last post, and I must admit that I don’t have any earth-shattering revelations to share with you, but figured it was time to write “something” again. Since writing last, I attended some of the sessions of the Indiana Annual Conference (of the United Methodist Church, for my non-Methodist friends J). It was an historic event as it was the first Annual Conference since the formation of the new Indiana Conference. Held at Ball State University, a new venue for the members of both the former North and South Indiana conferences, it was a celebration of new beginnings. Some of those new beginnings included the commissioning of three of my friends – Jim and Colin, who are friends from seminary, and Dirk, the associate pastor at my home church. Since I am pastoring a church in the East Ohio conference while I am in school, I didn’t attend the commissioning service this morning, but I was glad to see these three friends when I was there on Friday. I was also glad to “scope out” the new venue and get the “lay of the land” because if all goes well, I will be commissioned there next year. It is hard to believe that after all those years of running from God, I am now just a year away from graduation and commissioning! Wow!

Of course, I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself. I have coursework that needs to be completed, as well as commissioning paperwork and interviews between now and then. And quite honestly, I don’t want the time to go by too quickly as I want to enjoy every moment of my last year of school and my time with the congregation at Smithville UMC. I really do love the people of Smithville and know it will be hard to leave next year. In fact, when recently talking with a parishioner about my last Sunday in their pulpit, I jokingly said, “I’m gonna need drugs.” I really don’t want to think about that day just yet so for now I will just live in the moment and enjoy our time together. Until next time, peace …