About Me

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This summer, I am an intern at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Sylva, NC through Project Connect. I will be attempting to discern whether I am being called to public ministry (ie being a pastor). This blog will cover all sorts of things I learn about, things that I find interesting and decide to pass on. It will also be about other fun stuff I am doing here in the mountains :D

Monday, August 8, 2011

All's well that ends well...

So yesterday was my last day as the Intern at Shepherd of the Hills... and I have mixed feelings about it. I am very happy to be at home with my family and friends, but I can't help miss being at the church.

This summer has been an amazing time for growth and reflection for me. I have had a couple of really good mentors who have helped me along my journey of discernment. I am still not 100% sure of what I am going to do, but I now know a lot more about the different options of public ministry.

One thing that I am having a hard time explaining to people, both at SOTH and at FLC is that I have NOT made a decision. This summer wasn't ever about making a decision. I still have three years before I can even apply to a seminary, because I need to have an undergraduate degree before going on to a master's program. This summer was about discernment, which I wrote this newsletter article about:

I have used the word discernment or some variant of it many times over the course of this summer. Before going to orientation at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, I had a few vague ideas of what the word meant. I knew that it meant trying to figure something out, or something along those lines. The dictionary definition is: the quality of being able to grasp and comprehend that which is obscure or an act of perceiving something. In Christianity, we believe that discernment is looking inside to find what your vocation is.
Vocation is commonly referred to in the secular world as being a job. However, there is a bit more involved with vocation than it simply being a job. The word vocation comes from the Latin root “vocare” or to call. Therefore, our vocations are occupations that we are specifically called for. Traditionally, it is used to describe a position within the Church, such as a clergy member, but more frequently, it is being used to describe non-clergy jobs.
If teaching is something that a person is extremely good at, enjoys, and feels an inner calling to, then teaching would be considered their vocation. If being a musician is what someone feels the inner call to do, than that would be their vocation. There are so many different vocations that it can be kind of confusing to try and figure out what your vocation is.
So, this whole discernment process is to help me find my mine. I am hoping to do that by lots of reflection, prayer, and mentorship. This summer is a huge step for me, looking into and trying to plan for the future. I appreciate all of the support that everyone here at Shepherd of the Hills has given me. I may not know this month, this summer or even this year what it is, but I have no doubt that I will figure it out.

I have definitely done lots of praying, reflecting and talking with others who have gone before me. I have a few different ideas of what path I'm being called down. I still have three years, and a lot can change during that time, but I'll keep y'all up to date with where my life is going!
God's Peace be with you!