One More Step

It's Thursday morning and I'm one more step towards finishing this program. My thesis proposal has been submitted and approved by my supervisor. The working title is iPreach: the art of preaching with digital media. The resources have been selected and the plan is in place to make sure that all the bases are covered. Three years have almost come to an end. Three trips to Chicago almost over. Three years gathering with people who were once strangers who have now become friends. This part of the doctorate journey is ending today. I knew that today would be tough. I knew that there would be a range of emotions all wrapped up in a sense of completion and anticipation. I'm very glad to have made it to this point. I'm very thankful for all the people who have worked with me and supported me in order to get to this point. I'm glad that the residencies are over - especially the financial cost of them and yet I'm sad that I won't be together with these friends again in the same intensive way. I'm sad that these deep conversations will now come to an end as a group, even though some will continue on there own. I'm sad that I won't be able to gather with 19 people and break bread with great food and good wine. I will mourn the loss of this intensive community and what it has meant to join together with ecumenical colleagues from around the U.S. and Germany. These folks, these preachers, have changed who I am, how I look at the world and how I look at ministry in general. Yes I'm one more step towards the goal of a doctorate and I celebrate that, yet I mourn the loss of this community and what it has meant to me. It is another time of transition and while I look forward to the days and nights of pouring over a manuscript and doing draft after draft, I am sure at one level that it is the memory of this family that will give me the strength when I need it, the humour in a time of need and the assurance of support and care. This class, this family of 26, will always be part of who I am - regardless of where I go from here.