Today, I had the joy of watching two friends be ordained as pastors, plus the joy of seeing other friends who were ordained earlier in the summer. What was especially wonderful to me was that at certain points, we were the same goofy group who laughed together so much last year at the seminary. At other points, we took the ordination services today very seriously, with the weight of realization heavy upon us – this is that to which we have been called.
In the Lutheran tradition, we are called – by God, and by congregations. We do not proclaim ourselves as pastors, but rather, our calls to ministry are affirmed by the Church in a myriad of ways. Sometimes, these ways seem so trying – the hoops we jump through can be so tedious, and the road can be so long!
However, somewhere in my own pre-ordination hoop-jumping process this past year, I actually found myself giving thanks for the road, the process, and (gasp!) even the hoops, for they all mean that not only am I hearing some call of God, but others are hearing it for me, too. And there is a great sense of relief in that for me.
Back to my friends – newly “pastorized” – the relief was palpable today – they made it to this point! The joy, the reality of the yoke, and the sheer exhaustion was also there. But – it’s all OK – the Holy Spirit was also there: fully, lovingly, and joyfully there.
Thanks be to God!
