My New Job

Well, it's been a very interesting two weeks--and one day.

First of all, there is a palantir in front of the office.

I haven't been foolish enough to look into it yet, but it's very tempting.

And then one day, there was a prodigy in the sky.

My favorite thing, though, is the name of the restaurant across the street from the church.

I haven't quite decided if they just like to be criticized or if it's some kind of an in-your-face taunt directed at the Health Department.

On a more serious note, I am continually in awe over the way my life has changed so quickly and how different it is now. I was excited from the beginning about being able to go to Mass everyday, but it wasn't until I was there about a week that it really hit me that I am right next to the Blessed Sacrament all day, and that I can go make a visit whenever I want--and I do. I keep thinking about Psalm 27:

One thing I ask of the LORD; this I seek: To dwell in the LORD'S house all the days of my life, To gaze on the LORD'S beauty, to visit his temple.

Of course, there are difficulties. It's hard to go from being the person in the seminary that everybody went to for information to being the person who hardly opens her mouth except to ask questions. I remember wondering when I first started working at the seminary if there would ever come a day when somebody wouldn't ask me a question that I had never heard (or thought of) before, and although that day passed years ago, I'm now right back in the same situation. 

And then there is the bulletin. You should find the person in your church who does the bulletin and kiss her on both cheeks and hug her and promise her that you will read every word of it and never throw it away (or deliberately leave it in the restroom) again.You should frame them--really.

When I heard that part of my job was going to be arranging funerals, I was really glad because I know how much difference the person in that position can make to the family of the deceased. It never occurred to me, however, that the very first time I had to arrange a funeral, the pastor would be out of town and I would have to meet with the family alone. Thankfully, the family turned out to be one woman, and it went well, although we have to get together again tomorrow and figure some things out. I hope you will all pray for me to be able to make things as easy for her as possible.

And I also ought to say that everyone has been very welcoming and extremely kind and patient. It's been rather humbling, and I'm not a person that's naturally very humble. And even though I am always exhausted by 4:00, I actually look forward to going to work everyday. Amazing.

AMDG