Reading week

This week is listed as "Reading Week" in the class schedules. Being new to the whole process of graduate school, I wasn't quite sure what to think about it. After getting more than five hours sleep two nights in a row, I'm starting to see the point. Between work and school, I have been seriously overstressed. I hope to get ahead on my schoolwork later on this week.

I wish I had a better idea of what to do, but I'm just making it up as I go along. I envy those folks who have some support from others.

Tough acts to follow

This weeks readings in one of my classes included speeches by Ralph Waldo Emerson and Theodore Parker. The subject matter was interesting, but what struck me most strongly was the incredible skill that these men had with the English language. I found myself being constantly amazed at the power of their writing and I could hear in my mind the overwheleming power that their speeches must have had.

As someone who wants to become a minister, I'm a bit intimidated by the people who I am following in the profession.

Life can be ironic

Later on today I'm headed over to a memorial for an acquaintance who passed away. What I find ironic is that he and I had a disagreement over the importance of ritual in people's lives. He was a slightly evangelical atheist and tended (as most people do) to want others to believe as he does. Nice guy and devoted to his wife, his death was a huge shock to many people, even his wife thought her declining health would cause her to be the first to go.

So I find it ironic that there is going to be a memorial, which is a ritual for the living and that it is going to be held at a church. A Unitarian-Universalist church, which does have a number of atheists as members, but still a church.

I never could convince him that not all ritual is based on religion. Just like not all spirituality is based on religion.

I expect that some people will consider this post to be insensitive, but I'm trying to pay attention to the world. I would not be surprised to run into similar situations once I become an ordained minister. I think that dealing with awkward situations is part of the job.

Classes so far

I'm really enjoying the history class I'm taking right now, it's turning out to be a lot more interesting than I expected.

However, I'm not doing so well with my class on Buddhism. I am just not connecting. I'm really having problems with understanding a philosophy that is based on destroying desire, cravings and passion. My life is driven by passion. There is great pain, but there is also great joy. Going through life numb is just not something I can do.

But that's what Buddhism is about. Achieving nirvana, the end of personal existence.

Doing homework

After spending several hours in a church meeting, I decided that I really needed to finish this weeks seminary homework and I didn't really feel like going home. So I stopped by a bar that has WiFi on my way home. A "Gentlemen's Club". I've spent the afternoon drinking beer (Ziegenbock, it's okay) and doing my homework. I'm more likely to find people in need of spiritual help there than in church.

I actually had an interesting conversation with a dancer about some of the local churches. It was cool. Then I had a conversation with a waitress about Anime.

Not a terribly expensive afternoon either. About $30 for 4 beers and a steak dinner, including tips.

I'm finally posting to this blog, but some things are going to be really out of order. The past few weeks have been busy.

Introduction

So, this is my first post in a new blog. As may be evident from the title, I'm not a monotheist. I'm also not a trinitarian. I actually would have preferred godbotherer, but that belongs to a blog about a British band. So I got here a bit too late to stake out that name along with godbotherer.com. Such is life.

After a lifetime in IT, I started seminary classes two weeks ago. Part time and via distance (online) learning. I also started a new job at the same time. To say things have been a bit intense would be a bit of an understatement.

While I have thought of becoming a preacher occasionally over the past 15 years or so, only in the past couple of years have I come to truly loathe what I was doing for a living and realized that I need a radical change of careers. Given that I have alway been a "white knight" and my fundamental character is to help people in need, becoming a minister so that I can actually get paid, not well, but paid, to help people seems to be a reasonable choice.

The website for the seminary that I have started taking classes from lists some of their graduates who are trying to do great things. Personally, I'm hoping to do good things for a smaller number of people. I want to help heal the human spirit rather than try to save their immortal souls.

I could go get a MBA in 18 months. Instead, I'm going after a M. Div. that will probably take over 5 years and cost at least 3x. When I finish, I have no assurance that I will even be able to find a congregation who will want to have me. Life is not simple for some of us who feel a calling.

I have a sign on my refrigerator: Nothing great in this world was ever accomplished without passion.