You’ll hear
more about this adventure later in the week, but I’m currently on an
educational adventure. You might remember that late last summer, I began a master’s
level program, with the intent that it would fulfill the educational
requirements prior to ordination. In a very long story, the program did not end
up being a fit for me. I quickly realized that even though it was designed for those
working full-time, I wasn’t going to excel in work OR school if I stuck with
this path. So I left the program and decided to instead pursue a certificate program
offered by our denomination. I will still go to school, but the requirements
aren’t as intense, and I won’t have a master’s when I’m done. I’ll still be
able to follow through with ordination, so I am hopeful that this will be a
better time fit for me.
All that said, the orientation
for this program is taking place this week, so I’m knee deep in classes and
seminars. Yesterday at the start of the day, we had a brief chapel service intended
to set the tone for the orientation. We read through several passages of
Scripture and were challenged to think about how those passages could help us
set the tone for our respective ministries.
The first passage was Deuteronomy
6:4-9, which is probably a familiar one to many: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our
God, the Lord is one…” The version we read from yesterday went on to say “Keep
these words that I am commanding you today in your heart.”
Keep the words.
Out of all the passages we read
in that service, that was the piece that stuck out to me most. In anything I do
I ministry, I must keep His Word in my heart. Keep the words so I can write
about them. Keep the words so I can speak about them. Keep the words so I can
live them. Keep the words so I can encourage others with them. But in all
things, keep the words.
And so I’m striving to do that,
not just this week while I’m away and learning, but always. Keep the words.
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