College App. Essay -- Rough Draft Version

The Road I Walk

Frederick Buechner -- a Presbyterian minister and American author -- once said, "You are called to the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet."

My deep gladness bubbles up within me when I listen to other’s stories of joy and pain, when I study theology and writings of faith, and when I stand up in a room full of people to share my own beliefs with the hope that they too might believe. My deep gladness -- my vocation -- is ordained ministry.

When I think about my future, I think of myself as standing at the beginning of a road. While my road is marked -- in fact my road sign bears the word ‘Clergy’ -- I'm not quite sure where that road will lead. Often, I stand at the beginning of this road and simply imagine. Some days gravel ambles pleasantly along and leads to a small church, where I can barely make myself out through the stained glass; I see my hands raised above my head in thanks for Holy Communion. Some days asphalt leads to the gates of a major university, where am walking briskly out the door of the main building of the divinity school, with brief case -- stuffed with papers to grade -- in hand. Some days parched ground leads to a hot and dusty refugee camp, where I'm running with little children, playing soccer with a ball made of bound rags; I'm unconsciously trying to ease the pain of social injustice with the joy that comes from play.

My deep gladness is ministry to others; my road is ordained ministry. Where exactly my deep gladness will meet the world’s deep hunger, I do not know. I can only walk the road with faith and see what will come into view around the next bend.

-- and then so on and so forth, relating to college.  I haven't quite wrapped it up yet... --

Comments

[Jonathon Norman]

Some college is going to be VERY lucky to have you as a student and I can't imagine how blesseed some community is going to be the day Rev. Natalie walks into their life and brings such amazing gifts. Keep doing what you are doing.

shalom,
jonathon

[beth]

I like the imagery you use. Where are you applying?

[natalie]

thanks, both of ya'll...

i'm applying to berry, agnes scott, and birmingham southern...

[anonymous alumna]

Have you thought about UM-related Hendrix? ;-)

[mark]

Good start! Are you planning on posting the rest?

And good luck on that path. It's not always an easy one, but it is a very rewarding one. (I say that now, after only being ordained for a month!)

[Robert]

Buechner is one of my favorite authors. I agree with one of the commenters you are very gifted and will make some congrgation very blessed to have you serving there. I think some professors are in for a challenge at whatever school you choose to enroll in!!! So cool to see how blogs let us meet so many varied people :)

[Lorna]

deep hunger. it's spirtual and actual. When we minister we reach both.

I echo the comment above that whichever school and whichever denomination gets you ... will be so blessed. You have a passionate hunger for the Lord and will serve Him well.

I'm glad to get to know you through your blog