On Monday I start a whole new chapter in my life.  That is when I start studying at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, on a track to become an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). 

In a time where you can become a certified pastor online over the internet in just a few hours here in the USA, the ELCA requires its pastors to complete four years of undergraduate study, and then three years of graduate study, completing a Masters in Divinity, one year of internship in a parish, and a summer of Clinical Pastoral Education, in addition to several other things. 

Even writing that, it has been hard to let that sink in.  I am committing the next four years, three in school and one on internship, to becoming an ordained minister.  After three years of traveling and doing service work, having different odd jobs, and just being open and available to do anything at any time, I am saying that, for the next four years, I am going to be in the USA studying. 

That’s a difficult thing for me to do.  What if this great conference comes by, and I want to go?  Or, what about an opportunity to do service work in West Africa?  Or, how about a job that I’ve always wanted- I can’t and won’t just leave seminary!

It is something that I have prayed about a lot.  And, the call I felt was strong and clear.  I couldn’t just ignore this call because I was having so much fun! 

And, because I am convinced that this is what God wants, I trust that everything will go according to God’s plan, whatever that might look like.  It will be challenging, but also fun, and I am already excited to get started.  Now, I have to get to the not so fun part- packing!