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... --
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
Posted by: Jonathon Norman | October 13, 2006 at 09:49 PM
I like the imagery you use. Where are you applying?
Posted by: beth | October 16, 2006 at 12:36 AM
thanks, both of ya'll...
i'm applying to berry, agnes scott, and birmingham southern...
Posted by: natalie | October 16, 2006 at 07:09 PM
Have you thought about UM-related Hendrix? ;-)
Posted by: anonymous alumna | October 17, 2006 at 09:46 AM
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!)
Posted by: mark | October 20, 2006 at 05:08 PM
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 :)
Posted by: Robert | November 03, 2006 at 03:26 AM
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
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