welcome to the hike!

Working out the call!

I currently living in Millersburg or as God whispered in me ear four years ago in PA, "the land of my Fathers!" MILLERS - burg! OK! The best way to describe my life of late, is simply "Pastor-at-Large" I live "outside the box" of our usual expectation of life, family, employment and even culture. I live, breathe, and weave around a four county area as a local missionary and have learned of so many supportive faith communities. I meet people who contact me where they are in their 'hike 'o life."

The hats I wear are that of Life Coach, Writer, Speaker, Retreat Facilitator, Pastoral Supply, Prayer Counselor and well, whatever God calls on me to do (I actually get paid to do all of these things, which is awesome, unless you are helping me with my books!) I also work to "tent-make my mission work" as a church secretary for a sweet fellowship pastored by one of my favorite seminary prof's.

So what do I want to be when I grow up? Stay tuned! The goals are big and staying solvent month by month is a huge victory, but as I see my own heart and others hearts change and grow in my daily walk, I realize, I am not working for treasures on earth....I have direct deposit above. Guess that's a pretty sweet ride! Lacing up my hiking boots...on the hike o' life!























Friday, November 30, 2007

Sipping on that canteen

What a month! After an incredible time in Toronto relearning to soak in God's love and then practicing it in the prairies of Manitoba, I returned home to calm churches but many times of crisis to minister to people in the church and in the community.



I remember a seminary professor telling us that soaking was just allowing God to fill not only your cup until it runneth over, but to fill a canteen to the same place to hide in your heart. In the busyness of "doing" ministry, I was being, but not out of love and gratitude, but out of necessity. My vacation and conference reminded me that I needed to be rewired and really listen for God' s prompting and just REST IN HIM regularly, never mind that I usually fall asleep when I soak - at least I am yielding to Him and ready hear Him speak!



Well, not that I asked God, but my last day of vacation I felt led to just rest and veg out on movies and I went to one of my fav's, Shawshank Redemption. I remember paying special attention as the character Brooks was finally paroled and couldn't handle life outside Shawshank. I paid special attention as Red examined the room and wrote his encryption.

As always, I enjoyed the movie and the happy ending.



The next morning, my first back at work in two and a half weeks, the first phone call was of a young man who ended his life the AFTERNOON BEFORE, likely while I was watching the movie, in the same manner that Brooks did. I didn't even realize this "co-incidence" until the morning of the funernal, and I just praised God for his leading me to that movie and the compassion I was able to pour out from my filled canteen and renewed mind.



This week, I spent many hours with a family of a missing hunter. These calls never come at a convenient time and you never feel prepared, but yet as I walked into the situation, I felt a deep peace and was able not necessarily to speak great truths, but to be, and to be in His deep love in the presense of those who needed a drink from His canteen.



Yep, any good hiker can tell you that you need to have the canteen, nalgene or any living water with you on the trail. So too it is in the hike of life! Sip and refill! Signing off, preachergirl.