End of Summer...and first year of seminary!

When asked what word or phrase spoke to them or popped out to them after we read out loud the first few verses of the 23^rd Psalm, only Mr. Z responded, and he quickly said, “Green pastures.”  After a week of getting settled in by filling out forms, learning computer systems, and getting security clearances as the new Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) interns at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, we had finally been given our first chance to interact with patients by conducting the weekly “Bible study” in the dementia unit.  When we were quickly given instructions the day before – fifteen minutes of karaoke gospel followed by fifteen minutes of Bible study/reading wrapped up by another fifteen minutes of more karaoke gospel singing – we were led to believe that the patients would have little response, although a few might sing.  While most of the patients slept through the gathering, one patient particularly liked singing the old Baptist hymns but was not interested in participating in any reading or discussion.  Mr. Z had joined us late and was distracted during the initial singing.  But after his comment, I could not resist attempting to see if we could pull more conversation out of him.  When asked if he had lived in green pastures, he responded affirmatively and his eyes pooled.  For the remainder of the Psalm, the wells that were his eyes deepened, but he said very little other than nodding affirmatively when asked for input.  When we resumed our singing, he began to join the other patient in vigorously singing the old gospel standards.  We walked away feeling that our daily one-hour and fifteen minute commute to Murfreesboro was finally worth the drive.  And that's how we began our summer...
After a long academic year when it sometimes felt I was walking through the valley of the shadow of death (I know, I know…overly dramatic but I was trying to stay with the 23^rd Psalm theme…), I began to feel that my Shepherd was restoring my soul this summer as I worked with our aging veterans.  The whirlwind that was the last two years of my life has become lessened to a much greater extent so that I believe I can enter my second year of seminary being led beside still waters.  (Okay…enough of the 23^rd Psalm theme…)

Some tidbits of life on “the Mountain:”  Sometimes it was ten degrees cooler in Sewanee than it was in the lowlands of Murfreesboro this summer.  Did you know it snowed three times this past year…my classmate from Colorado disagrees with my definition of “snow” as well as my definition of a “harsh winter.”  I didn’t realize how “low church” I really was…and that there is still a lot of the Evangelical in my Contemplative self.  I thought I knew humidity…black mold grows very quickly in my shower if I don’t wash it down with bleach periodically, unlike in Houston.  The hiking and views are incredible…I just wish most of my hikes were in the woods and not to the library where my views are limited to stacks and stacks of books.  I thought I knew fog growing up on the Texas coast…I have decided that the “fog” here in Sewanee is really just clouds overtaking us since our elevation is at 1,923 feet.  The name of the people and the country is pronounced “Is-ray-el,” not “Is-ri-el”…I won’t make that mistake again!  And the really big news…I am the first Cox who has been allowed to join a choir!  My family is really proud…(the choir director still hasn’t figured out I am lip-synching…)

And so I start what is called my “Middler” year of seminary in late August.  This year will find me start learning how to preach in our chapel, the Chapel of the Apostles, pictured below.  In January, I will start doing my field work in a parish.  So…lots of “new” experiences in store for me this year but the Lord is still my shepherd and I shall not want…

            Proof of snow!

And fog!     

My view when I preach next year...

Blah, Blog, Blah, Blog, Blah...

I have heard a great deal from many sources a similar refrain..."Hey, what about your blog??"  Well...the blog was an idea I had before the reality of divinity study hit me!  I began a draft of a blog post last October that never got finished...it started something like this...

I remember the opening credits of a western that was on television for maybe a year or two when I was a child.  The cavalryman had been accused of a major dereliction of duty, what I don’t remember.  But as the theme song typical of 1960s television was sung by a full choir explaining the man’s crime, the soldier’s uniform was being ripped piece by piece of its medals and distinguishing marks until the man was left wearing just a plain blue shirt and the opening credits faded into the story.  You didn’t know what was going to become of the man…but you knew he definitely wasn’t a soldier anymore.  From the determined look on his face, you kinda thought the story would turn out alright for him…

Yes, this has been a challenging transition, re-entering the academic world after a twenty-five year sabbatical.  I have been stripped of all the accoutrements of my former life as a competent professional woman, spiritual director, health policy duffer, helpful friend, regular shopper at Whole Foods...I am indeed wearing a plain blue shirt, marking a life in transition.  But, oh what a transition!  I am learning to chant this semester (even though I keep telling them in my deepest Texas accent, "Thar ain't no chantin' in the Diocese of Texas!") as well as a class to learn to read scriptures out loud with feeling...but I have definitely decided that I will not emote to the extent I am being taught by a theater professor while reading the Gospel in my future parishes...

Like the soldier from the 1960s Western, I maintain a sense of purpose...although frequently the look on my face is more akin to weariness than determination...but I know that, with God's help, "things will turn out alright"....and I will ride into a sunset like this in another two years, headed back to Texas!