Where I've Been for the Past Month

I know, I know, it's been awhile since I last posted. A lot has happened in my life since May 6:

• I graduated from TEDS with my MDiv. Four (intense) years of my life have finally been rewarded with a diploma, a handshake, and a bunch of school loans.

• I fell in love with Montana, thanks to an awesome trip out West for a friend's wedding. I also fell in love with the rental car, a Honda Civic (Shhhh! Don't tell the Red Rocket!).

• I traveled to Atlanta for an AMiA Worship Leaders' Conference with Matt Redman. I would say it was "awesome," but according to Matt that's a word that we should reserve exclusively for God Himself. This conference sparked my creativity and got me thinking about the importance of developing leaders intentionally - which requires sacrifice and humility, because it means surrendering the notion that any of us are indispensable.

• I performed some music at a church-sponsored Coffee House, meant to raise awareness and moolah for the Rwanda trip. It was the first time I thoroughly enjoyed performing in this type of venue.

• The Rwanda team (our pastor and two others) from our church left on their two-week journey. For the first time, my phone number is on the church answering machine as the "call in a pastoral emergency" contact number.

• My grandpa's health has been failing for awhile, and he passed away on Wednesday, June 14, 4 p.m. PST. I booked a last minute flight and went home for a couple of days to support my family. And, for the first time in several years, I got to have breakfast with my dad on Father's Day.

• I arrived back in Chicago around 6 p.m. on Sunday, went home, collapsed in front of the TV for a couple of hours, repacked my suitcase, and flew out again Monday morning at 8 a.m. for the Anglican Provincial Assembly in Bedford, Texas (in between Dallas and Fort Worth). I was very, very tired... but at least I had a whole hotel room to myself!

So, for the past few days I have been in Dallas, attending meetings, hearing speakers, voting on the Canons and Constitution of the new Anglican Province (ACNA = Anglican Church of North America), and generally experiencing life through the eyes of those orthodox Anglicans who have decided to leave the Episcopal Church. I'm still processing everything that I have seen and heard (especially since AMiA will fall under the jurisdiction of the ACNA yet will still remain under the auspices of the Anglican Church of Rwanda), so expect another post about this soon.

Let's just say that I am tired and ready to come back home to Highwood and stay awhile. I hear a rumor that it's summer...