Waiting is not one of my favorite things. As we enter into this season of changing pastors here at the parish I would like to know what’s coming, both for this faith community and for my family. Every Monday morning an email is sent out to the Greater Northwest Episcopal Area with all the latest appointment news. The Bishop was hopeful that we’d know by mid-February, but given the slow roll out of appointments this far I am thinking mid-March is more realistic!
It helps me to realize in a year’s time, in 10 year’s time these few months of not knowing will be a flash. It is such a short period of time, but in the middle if it time seems to slow and the future seems far away! I felt this same way when I was pregnant with our daughter. 9 months isn’t that long in the life of a 28 year old, but being in pain and on bed rest seemed to last forever. People told me that it would be worth it when she came and although being her parent is an amazing honor, those months of suffering weren’t just wiped away. It took years to deal with the fear and anxiety, the residual pain.
What I’ve learned as an itinerant pastor is that how we wait matters. So we honor the uncertainty, listen to our fears, join in the flow of life when we aren’t in control and we practice trust. Because even if my worst case scenario happens, (which is that the Bishop decides to appoint me to Alaska which is a heck of a commute for my husband and we get some conservative young hipster man at the parish who will have damaging theology while being way cooler than me) I know that God is with us and we will find a way in love to a path of faith and hope.
Blessings,
Eilidh
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