Four weeks ago I embarked on this adventure to the town of Long Branch. In many ways, I still feel like I’m getting used to the water, settling down into the hot tub, slowly adjusting to the temperature change. In other ways, it’s kind of like in college, when you’re taking a shower, and someone in an attempt to be funny, pours a bucket of freezing cold water over the side of the shower and you get shocked awake.
Well, at least coffee’s a constant.
I have been struggling a bit to figure out just what it is I am supposed to do here. I STILL feel unsettled (sensing a theme here?), but the house is almost mine! After chatting with a friend last Friday, I am VERY excited to get the house set up in my style. Of course, if I had a thousand free days and an endless supply of money, it would look just like it does in my head. I guess I’ll have to compromise a bit.
A couple weeks ago I went across the street to the barbershop. I needed a haircut, Katie was coming to town, and honestly, the first thing you need to find when you move to a new place is who is going to cut your hair. So I found Frank.
Frank emigrated from Italy in 1962 when he was 18 years old. Three years later, he opened his shop, and has been there ever since. We got to talking and he told me all about moving here and choosing to become a barber, his Dad who died in Italy during a freak snow storm, all the other things he could have been, etc. etc. It reminded me of something Dr. Dennis said in our Introduction to Ministry Studies class a couple years ago- “The only two people I tell EVERYTHING to are my therapist, and my barber.” What makes the barber such a safe place?
Perhaps it is the intimacy that is created by being so close to another person? Think about the physical closeness that occurs during a haircut. Think also about how awkward it is if neither person is talking! Barbers, like Pastors, need to be good conversationalists, of THAT I am certain! But moreover, getting a haircut is an excellent opportunity to just get to know someone. Now, in this respect, I’m speaking from a strictly male perspective. I have no idea what goes on in a beauty parlor or hair salon. Women- care to weigh in? I have a feeling it is equally as intimate, though stereotypes have played up the “gossiping” aspect of women’s hair dressers more than men’s, but I trust we can move beyond that for now!
I also had the opportunity to meet with the Executive Director of the Long Branch Concordance last week. LBC (www.lbc4help.org) is a non-profit organization that helps people and families find the resources they need. They work with faith based and other organizations throughout Long Branch. It was an exciting conversation, and I am ringing with dreams and visions for ministries that can take place in Long Branch! The friend I spoke with last Friday also mentioned that I should just DREAM! So, I’m making a list of all the things I think could happen here… It makes me excited!
October is going to be a busy month, but I am looking forward to the challenges and opportunities that await me! Might be time for another haircut soon…
Monday, September 29, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
A Forced Post- okay, it came out smoothly eventually
Boy, it’s really hard to write something when I don’t feel like it! But… I made a commitment to post an update/new entry every week. So… here I am!
Last week was a good week. I’m getting my bearings in my position, and feel like I have some direction. I have a couple of good leads into the community, one of which is a friend from Highland Park. His knowledge of the town of Long Branch will be an excellent way for me to be introduced to some key community leaders.
The biggest topic of interest in Long Branch right now is that of eminent domain. There have been a couple of cases, at least one receiving national attention, regarding eminent domain. People on both sides of the issue are very passionate. I am still pretty ignorant about the issue, but I feel this may be a place where the church can play a healing role. I should start researching this issue. Hmmm…
It isn’t easy to move, start classes, AND start a new job all in the same month, let alone the same week! There are moments when I feel overwhelmed (one of those came just a couple hours ago!), but then I remind myself that I can’t let these HUGE tasks take over. These will be ongoing efforts, that are really, much bigger than I am!
Bobby and Maria began moving out this past weekend. I am very happy for them to have found a house they can call their own! That’s a big step in anyone’s life (God knows if I’ll ever have a house of my own :-P)! They are still moving, and I hate to be anxious for them to be out, but once they have completely moved out, I can begin to settle! People in general work at the top of their game when they are settled and organized- and I for one fall at the top of that list! My work and living area may not always be meticulously put together, but at least I know where things are- it’s organized in my head!
Well, that’s about all I can force out for now! Classes are going VERY well! I’m really enjoying each of them- especially my Independent Study. I’m just having a blast with it! Katie says I’m a nerd… yeah. I really am! Speaking of which, she comes out for a long weekend visit on Thursday! I’m just a little excited :)
Last week was a good week. I’m getting my bearings in my position, and feel like I have some direction. I have a couple of good leads into the community, one of which is a friend from Highland Park. His knowledge of the town of Long Branch will be an excellent way for me to be introduced to some key community leaders.
The biggest topic of interest in Long Branch right now is that of eminent domain. There have been a couple of cases, at least one receiving national attention, regarding eminent domain. People on both sides of the issue are very passionate. I am still pretty ignorant about the issue, but I feel this may be a place where the church can play a healing role. I should start researching this issue. Hmmm…
It isn’t easy to move, start classes, AND start a new job all in the same month, let alone the same week! There are moments when I feel overwhelmed (one of those came just a couple hours ago!), but then I remind myself that I can’t let these HUGE tasks take over. These will be ongoing efforts, that are really, much bigger than I am!
Bobby and Maria began moving out this past weekend. I am very happy for them to have found a house they can call their own! That’s a big step in anyone’s life (God knows if I’ll ever have a house of my own :-P)! They are still moving, and I hate to be anxious for them to be out, but once they have completely moved out, I can begin to settle! People in general work at the top of their game when they are settled and organized- and I for one fall at the top of that list! My work and living area may not always be meticulously put together, but at least I know where things are- it’s organized in my head!
Well, that’s about all I can force out for now! Classes are going VERY well! I’m really enjoying each of them- especially my Independent Study. I’m just having a blast with it! Katie says I’m a nerd… yeah. I really am! Speaking of which, she comes out for a long weekend visit on Thursday! I’m just a little excited :)
Monday, September 8, 2008
Week One
One week ago yesterday, I left a place that had become a second home to me. It was a place I had grown incredibly comfortable at over the course of the last two years. I knew my way around, people came to me for answers, and I had a concrete place in the community. People knew me, and I knew the people. Pastor Kyle. Congregation. It was great!
Probably the most difficult aspect of ministry as I have known it, is the temporariness of it all. Growing up, we moved four different times. In my life within ministry (the past 4 years), I have worked at three different churches in three or four different positions. Now, I know that I am still a student and this displacement is “normal,” but still, ministry doesn’t always afford permanence or stability. Should it? (that last question will be left to hang for now, perhaps to be revisited in a later post!).
So I have once again “moved on.” I am now in Long Branch, NJ. A mile from the beach. Exploring ministry possibilities. And I cannot help but feel a little lost. No doubt, moving into an existing community is challenging in its own right, but to move into a place where you are to create that community? It is a daunting task!
I still feel unsettled. When the couple who is now living in the parsonage move out within the next couple of weeks, I can start setting up my life and things can start to feel a little more like “home.” That will help. Getting to know people in the community- that will also help. Knowing that there are people in churches in New Jersey and New York that are praying for me- that helps a lot. So really, I am not alone at all!
One of the lectionary readings for this past Sunday was Psalm 114. It is a recounting of the Exodus, when Moses led the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt. Throughout their history, the Israelites turned away from God again and again, and time and time again, God kept calling them back, largely through the prophets. One of the most repeated phrases throughout the Old Testament (seems to me at least!) to be “remember the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of slavery” (or something like that). It is a call to remember where they came from. What is our story? Where have we come from? Only by really engaging and remembering the past, can we have any idea where we are and where we are going. Only by remembering my past, learning from my experiences, and engaging them, can I head into tomorrow. And you know what? God will be there!
Probably the most difficult aspect of ministry as I have known it, is the temporariness of it all. Growing up, we moved four different times. In my life within ministry (the past 4 years), I have worked at three different churches in three or four different positions. Now, I know that I am still a student and this displacement is “normal,” but still, ministry doesn’t always afford permanence or stability. Should it? (that last question will be left to hang for now, perhaps to be revisited in a later post!).
So I have once again “moved on.” I am now in Long Branch, NJ. A mile from the beach. Exploring ministry possibilities. And I cannot help but feel a little lost. No doubt, moving into an existing community is challenging in its own right, but to move into a place where you are to create that community? It is a daunting task!
I still feel unsettled. When the couple who is now living in the parsonage move out within the next couple of weeks, I can start setting up my life and things can start to feel a little more like “home.” That will help. Getting to know people in the community- that will also help. Knowing that there are people in churches in New Jersey and New York that are praying for me- that helps a lot. So really, I am not alone at all!
One of the lectionary readings for this past Sunday was Psalm 114. It is a recounting of the Exodus, when Moses led the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt. Throughout their history, the Israelites turned away from God again and again, and time and time again, God kept calling them back, largely through the prophets. One of the most repeated phrases throughout the Old Testament (seems to me at least!) to be “remember the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of slavery” (or something like that). It is a call to remember where they came from. What is our story? Where have we come from? Only by really engaging and remembering the past, can we have any idea where we are and where we are going. Only by remembering my past, learning from my experiences, and engaging them, can I head into tomorrow. And you know what? God will be there!
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