Wed arvo: Spiritual direction, with my wonderful Dominican sister Mary Therese. I always feel listened to and challenged by here.
Wed arvo: Went running with Peter (who I ran with some last year) and Eldon (who has wanted me to run with him to get the motivation to run). I could probably have walked just as fast, but it was a beautiful clear afternoon and good to be with them.
Wed arvo: We had a 2nd rite of reconciliation here at CTU, and I was one of the confessors. Having not done any sacramental ministry for awhile, I had forgotten what a privilege it is, and how powerful it is to hear people's heartfelt confessions, and to pray with them and announce God's forgiveness. I am also very humbled when friends or people who know me well have enough trust in God, in me and in the sacrament to come to me. As a priest I am just an empty vessel for God's grace and forgiveness, but the image I have is of water flowing through a pipe - the pipe is taking water to somewhere else, but it gets wet on the inside in the process. In being there for people's encounter with God in reconciliation, I find I get touched by God's love too.
Wed night: I've been meaning to make time to have dinner with my friend Todd for some time now, for him to tell me the full story of his calling to become a pastor in the Lutheran church. I had previously shared my calling story with him. We finally got together, and it was great to hear his quite remarkable story, which took place during his tour of duty as a soldier in Iraq a few years back.
Thurs morning: IRF. One of those random classes we have which are not about formation, but just general updating of theology for us. We had a guest lecturer, Fr John Melloh, whom I'd heard a little of on tape previously, and very much disliked. So I prayed that morning that I would have an open heart and mind. And I did in fact like him, and found his teaching - on styles of preaching to be very useful.
Thurs arvo: Did a labyrinth walk with Jason, as our final lenten prayer time together. We used the old mystic tradition of the purgative, illuminative, and unitive way. As we walked in, we stopped at each turn to meditate on letting go (of distractions, worries, needs, and anything which blocks us from God). At the centre we prostrated, surrendering our knowledge to God and asking him to teach our hearts, and as we walked out we walked with a focus on the presence of God, and on God being in charge. By the end I felt very centred and peaceful. It was a poweful conclusion to what has been a great lenten exercise of sharing prayer with a friend.
Thurs arvo: Had coffee with Francie, who I've been trying catch up with for some time.
Thurs arvo: Went running with Todd. Todd's a lot faster than me, so it was a good training run. But we also continued last night's conversation, recognising many points of convergence of what God has done in each of our lives.
Thurs night: Poker night, as always. This, with Jason, Todd, Matt and the whole lutheran gang has been the cornerstone of my social life this year. And after the game we celebrated the warmer weather, heading outside to sit around a fire. There we made our plans and booked our end of semester holiday in South Carolina.
Fri morning: Matt & Jason came over to join us for 7.30 am morning prayer (pretty good for guys who went to bed at 3am!) then Matt & I had breakfast together, which I think might become a tradition.
Class was good once again.
Mark Twain advised not to let school interfere with one's education. While I am learning some good things in class, for me so much more has happened outside of class. I am learning a lot through prayer and relationships. I have been more consistent during Lent with prayer every morning, and I am feeling the fruit of that in a renewed energy both for looking forward to life and ministry back home (only 2 months to go), and in making the most of relationships and opportunities here.
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