Today marks the one year anniversary of my father’s sudden death.This morning in between the asleep stage and the fully awake stage I heard in my thoughts, “Happy Birthday!” “Wow, that’s interesting.” was my next thought. There is definitely a theological reflection I need to ponder. It set the tone for a hopeful mood of honoring my father today. My sister is watching football in his honor–one of his favorite past times. My mother and husband are having tea and reading poetry together–another activity he loved. Calls from those who have remembered this day have soothed my heart. It is a good day to celebrate my father’s first birthday.
This is also the beginning of the third week of seminary and the first I’ve felt like a rhythm and routine are finally taking shape. There are several schedules that come to you at the beginning from a variety of different sources, many of which there was little forewarning. We balance not only our class times, but work study, chapel assignments, training sessions, the Daily Office, Eucharists, community meals, and cries for help. But I think the Juniors are getting the gist of it and the community is so strong among my classmates that we huddle up and figure it out together. I already love all 20 of them dearly.
My life has become a lot smaller and more focused. My ministry has always been out in the big, wide world and now it is contained within a two block radius of a 400 sq. ft. apartment and the campus across the street. I can see I will be living part-time in the library which will please my librarian step-daughter immensely.
This week my mind, heart, and soul are immersed in the Holy Spirit, Dead Sea Scrolls, Ancient Israel timeline and the Second Temple Period, Anglican Chant (I’m giddy), and a full dunk in the deep end of the pool of Spanish theological reflection.
There have been some adjustments, mostly having to do with how do my husband and I share 400 sq. feet with each other, two dogs, and two cats after living on four acres in the piney woods for years. Did I mention the UT football games which we can hear play by play from the apartment? But we are both committed to this journey which we are sharing. The lectionary was perfect today–leave it all behind and follow me. No other way.
So, happy birthday, Daddy. And blessed new beginnings for both of us.
Magdalena's Musings 