it's cold tonight at Starbucks. it's too cool to still have the air on, but we're in that tricky fall weather that makes it difficult to make that call every day. my pumpkin spice latte, though delectable, has long since ceased to warm my insides. i've just finished composing two essays for my application to westminster seminary*(what, you say? seminary? what's that all about?) and am contentedly in introvert mode; the lone loser at starbucks on a friday evening, just me and my mac and my headphones soothing me with sigur ros.*
as the fall draws ever upon me, i find myself daily choosing to embrace this season of preparation that i find myself in. i'm not gonna lie- some days it's not easy. but i find myself tonight thinking back to my one of my early philosophy classes with mr. o'neal at moody. he told us that his experience with most bible college students like ourselves was that we were all so anxious to get out into the ministry world, to DO things for jesus, that we failed to adequately embrace our season of education as a necessary step toward our larger goals and desires. your chance out there will come soon enough, he said. sit back and really take advantage of this season where you are being prepared for what ministry will involve. you'll be thankful for it later.
so, mr. o'neal, here i am, trying to not be so darn antsy about getting back to europe, and trying to make the most of this time to prepare. enter: westminster seminary. their certificate program in biblical and urban studies allows me to take some great classes from their urban mission program, and to throw in some choice electives from their other programs like philosophies of church planting, and apologetics, and christianity and the arts. enter: liberti church,* where i have been attending in philadelphia since arriving back to the city of brotherly shove, er, love, and where i am (as of today) now a part-time employee, doing administration and volunteer coordinating. i am looking forward to working with a fantastic staff of people who are seeking to humbly serve their city. enter: the hosan household. yes, i am sure ready to get my own apartment already, but in the words of mordecai,* "who knows but that you were made [too poor to move out] for such a time as this?" there's a lot of crazy stuff happening at 11 east turnbull avenue these days, what with grandma mentally deteriorating by the minute, and mom trying to handle everyone's issues. rachel's personal agenda? exit stage left.
the fall feasts of Israel are upon us, and i am thinking of constructing a sukkah* in my backyard. (i wonder if my high school siblings' jewish friends would think me crazy?) i found a dance studio in philadelphia that teaches a modern jazz class- i plan to join. i am sending my sorely missed witt chicks text messages as i ride the train into philly for the new job and job interviews. (i'm thankful for cell phones.) i'm being challenged by good books that i actually have the energy to read. i'm going to the chiropractor. i'm drinking homemade smoothies almost every day. i'm just trying to make the most of my time.
wes stafford * talks in his book about time being like a river (a lesson he learned from the african chief of the village of his missionary childhood.) the future is upstream, around the bend, rushing down upon us, and we spend so much of our time wading out into the middle of the river to try to get a better view of what's around that bend. as we stand there craning our necks, the present quickly rushes into the past, and we are left discontent, anxious and preoccupied with things we do not know and cannot change.
live well today, friends. that's what i'm trying to do, and i pray that you are doing the same.
* take advantage of these links!! i put them in there on purpose.
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