Disclaimer: I could not be more grateful for my life and my family, and the opportunities that have been given to me over the last 21 years. I hope very sincerely that this gratitude is not doubted or forgotten.
That being said: people ask me what I learned in Ecuador. I tell them about language, about service, about culture shock, etc. One thing I shared with my best friend is this: this is the part where I live my life for myself.
In 7th grade, when I was a glorious pre-teen, we moved from Corning to Rochester. I had a new life, for the time being. I knew that when I graduated high school, there was a very good chance that Rochester would no longer be my home. As it was, my family was split up before I left. My mom and I ended up moving to Elmhurst to join my dad about 6 months after he accepted his call here. Home became Niebuhr Hall 211, sort of. Because then, it went to 3 Elm Creek Drive Apt 314, or Apt 116. Then home was West Hall 226A. Then it was Prospect Apt 4, but only for 4 months because then I lived at la esquina de Baron de Carondelet y Pablo Herrera for 4 and a half months. And now, I live at 1012 1/2 North Blvd Apt 42. My idea of home has rarely been defined about the physical place I live, but about the people with whom I share my life.
To be quite honest, I am sick of this. I want church community. I want to be able to serve on a committee and pledge. I want to quit filing change of address paper work. I want to get involved in my community. I want to go to seminary. I am called to seminary. Since sophomore year, I have felt called to Chicago Theological Seminary. I want to be in care with a solid church community. I want to belong somewhere. I want stability, and solidness. I want to be still. I want to get to know a place, and live in it. I want to explore Boys Town and Andersonville and Pilsen and ride the L.
I have spent my life moving and shaking in some way or another, and I really would like to take this opportunity to be still. Know God. Know myself. This weekend, I will be attending a Ministry as Vocation conference at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California. After this weekend, I wonder how I will feel about seminary. I am wondering if it might be time...
