Glimpses of God - Day Twelve

Ordination day! To the Diaconate, that is - I’m sure I’ll write about my Priesting too, because there were definitely “Glimpses of God” that day that I’d love to share with you in a future blog, but for now, I wish to share with you about this precious day.  

September 12th, 2021.  We’re still in the throes of the pandemic.  Masking, vaccination, and hand hygiene have become part our everyday language, it’s a strange time.

My friend, Deborah, and I arrive at Christ Church Cathedral in Victoria at the designated time. I’m wearing a Clergy collar for the first time, as are most of the other ordinands, I remember feeling so joyful and grateful, but stunned at the same time.  Was this actually happening? Was I prepared? Was I up to the task that I believed God and community were calling me into? 

Maybe some folk feel the same right before getting married, I wouldn’t say I had a case of cold feet, because that wouldn’t be true, but I can tell you it was like having an out of body experience; Is this joyful thing actually about to happen to me?

Now, I tend to be a happy and joyful person by nature, however, the joy I felt at this moment in time was something I hadn’t experienced before, it was a joy of feeling like “coming home,”  Bishop Anna’s words rang in my heart and mind, “You’re enough.  Okay?  Know that you’re all enough.”

It was Alastair’s duty, as Archdeacon, to vest me.  I must have had quite a look of delight on my face, even with the mask on.  As Alastair vested me with my red stole he said, “There, now you’re glowing.”  I could see his smile even through his mask. I was glowing, and what I wanted to do at that moment was give the joy I was feeling to others.

Joy remains a huge part of how I do ministry, it compels me to respond outwardly, to share and give the gift of joy and love to others. That is the gift of ministry, and I could do no less. In this Lenten season, may we all feel “enough,” just as we are, to share ourselves and our gifts to a world that is hungry for God’s love. 

Isaiah 43.1,2

But now thus says the Lord,
   he who created you, O Jacob,
   he who formed you, O Israel:
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
   I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
   and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
   and the flame shall not consume you.