Taking photos without the aid of a curious cat just isn’t good photography. I’m grateful to Dr. Andrew Zirschky for bringing our Youth Ministry class olive wood crosses from Israel as token gifts this week.
While I make no secret that I’m completely in love with my young seminary journey so far, it has been a challenge adjusting to the atmosphere surrounding a theological education.
I’ve sought counsel from a few friends even, struggling with the idea of letting God into my education.
I know. It sounds weird to me, too.
But going through public school and a public university studying journalism, you certainly aren’t encouraged to make the Holy Spirit a part of your education. You are taught NOT to bring your context and baggage with you into journalism, yet in theological studies, you MUST take those things into account.
I’m learning that seminary is altogether different — it’s more than academia and more than a Bible study.
In our brief orientation at Memphis Theological Seminary, someone spoke about how Spirit-filled the classes could be, stating that many professors open class with prayer. While I’m not sure that I can attest that I’ve been “taken to church” every time I’m in class, this final week before Spring Break has been uplifting thanks to my three professors.
Monday night, my Youth Ministry class met with professor Dr. Andrew Zirschky for the first time since his return from a trip to Israel. He brought us all back clutching crosses made from Jerusalem olive wood (seriously, one of the nicest gestures EVER). He opened up class explaining the concept of a clutching cross, then instructed us to open with meditative prayer.
As a class, clutching our crosses, we repeated this Orthodox prayer known as the Jesus Prayer:
“Jesus Christ,
Son of God,
Have mercy on me,
a sinner.”
It was a beautiful time of peace with my classmates and professor to reflect and savor the hour, and I’m grateful Dr. Zirschky would think of us while traveling abroad to bring us back such a meaningful token.
Like every Tuesday morning, my Introduction to Old Testament professor Dr. Steven Parrish opened class by reading us a psalm. This week, he read part of Psalm 136, allowing the class to participate in the liturgy of the reading:
Psalm 136 (1-9)
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
4 to him who alone does great wonders,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
5 to him who by understanding made the heavens,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
6 to him who spread out the earth above the waters,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
7 to him who made the great lights,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
8 the sun to rule over the day,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
9 the moon and stars to rule over the night,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Starting an 8 a.m. class with the reminder that God’s steadfast love endures forever isn’t a bad way to begin the day. It’s a beautiful means of centering yourself for the hours to come.
Despite all the reminders of God’s peace and love the previous 24 hours, by the time I made it to my Mission of the Church class Tuesday afternoon, I was in full-blown ulcer mode. I’d been preparing a solid week for our midterm, and I was anything but confident about my mastery of the material before me. But Dr. Janel Bakker prayed before we began class, asking God to calm our nerves and to help us display what we’ve learned in the class — to make us better servants for the Kingdom.
If the Chick-Fil-A I had for lunch wasn’t already rocking my worry-ridden stomach, that prayer punched me square in the gut. All this studying, reading, writing, outlining, and highlighting I had been doing for eight weeks wasn’t just to ace a test, it was in preparation of a life of serving my Creator and serving others.
Clutching my olive wood cross tightly, I got to work on my exam. The midterm was worth every bit of worry I had put into it, but upon handing it in to Dr. Bakker, I was at peace.
I’d finally let God into seminary, as if God had been anywhere else this whole time.
~ Dusty
Thank you so much for sharing! You are a wonderful blessing to me, my family and my church! God has great plans for you!!!
Thanks for the encouragement, Glenda! You’ve been a blessing to me, as well!
What a beautiful visual reminder! I need to get a clutching cross!
Michele, Not only area they spiritual, but they’re great for stress relief, too! Kind of like a worry stone or a stress ball!