{"id":718,"date":"2013-06-07T10:36:24","date_gmt":"2013-06-07T14:36:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ptsblog.org\/?p=718"},"modified":"2021-04-02T12:46:26","modified_gmt":"2021-04-02T17:46:26","slug":"718","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/718\/","title":{"rendered":"Remembering – The Core of our Lives and Ministries"},"content":{"rendered":"

This past week, I attended the 217th<\/sup> Commencement of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, along with many of my friends and colleagues.\u00a0But I was not graduating.\u00a0It was a strange feeling since those graduating were the very ones I entered Seminary with in 2010. Due to my middling academic abilities and the presence of young children in my family, I chose to complete Seminary in four years, rather than three, and I stand by my decision, but I was reminded of a friend of mine, a member of the Sisters of Saint Joseph while sitting at the ceremony. She is 88 years old and has six siblings, who all have children and grandchildren. She told me once that she had no regrets about her call to her vocation and that she knew, when she entered ministry, that she would be giving up having children.\u00a0The one thing she didn\u2019t think about, though, was that she would be giving up grandchildren.\u00a0She choked up when she told me that and I felt like I understood her loss to a small degree. That is a bit how I felt watching my friends graduate.\u00a0When I chose to take four years, I never thought how difficult it would be to say farewell after three years were done.\u00a0I managed to keep myself sort of together during the ceremony and wish my dear friends and colleagues all the best in their post-Seminary life. But it was hard.<\/p>\n

One of my favorite lines is from poet Mary Oliver, where she admonishes her readers to \u201cPay attention, be astonished, and tell about it.\u201d As I reflect on the past three years, I can fondly remember the solid academic foundation we have been blessed with, the relationships built within student organizations, the recreation had through games of Frisbee and basketball (for those with athletic talent, that is), the ways we have cared for one another during difficult times, the times we have worshiped together in chapel services, the social times we have enjoyed with friends and children, and the meals we shared together in homes, restaurants, and the cafeteria.\u00a0These were the foundations of our shared life together and were important in forming us as colleagues and leaders.\u00a0 The times, though, that I think were even more important were those moments where eternity unexpectedly entered our midst.\u00a0There were thousands of these moments, too many to share here, but I would like to share two such moments from my experience at PTS.<\/p>\n

The first occurred near the beginning of our time together during our first round of midterms.\u00a0I discovered early in my time at PTS that the majority of my colleagues were not only competent and intelligent, they were also academically-driven to such a degree that astonished me.\u00a0I found exam periods to be very anxious as my friends prepared to master the material to perfection. I was quite impressed and found myself unable to relate in many ways, actually.\u00a0After our first round of exams, most of us had picked up our papers and answer sheets from our mailboxes during our morning break and were examining the comments and grades, trying to figure out which answers we had missed.\u00a0I always sat in the second row of the lecture hall surrounded by a group of amazing second-career students. These\u00a0people not only held down full-time jobs, they also were here after being away from academics for what seemed like a lifetime.\u00a0One of these students asked another, a mild-mannered woman, \u201cHow did you do on that exam?\u201d\u00a0And the student answered, \u201cI got a D.\u201d\u00a0We both looked at her, waiting for her to elaborate, and she flashed a huge smile, lifted her arms in the air, and shouted, \u201cI PASSED!!!!!!!!!!\u201d For me, eternity snuck into that moment.\u00a0God calls all of God\u2019s children to participate in the work of the Kingdom and God always honors our best efforts, and what is even better, God honors our not-so-great efforts, too. I felt like, in the midst of the overwhelming urge among my colleagues to earn perfect scores (as great as those are), God reached in at that moment and revealed God\u2019s vision for a ministry that includes all of us, regardless of class rank.<\/p>\n

The second\u00a0instance was just a short time ago and it stands in contrast to the story I just shared.\u00a0This moment came at an occasion that most of us can hardly imagine: a memorial service for a stillborn baby boy. A dear colleague and friend lost her son about halfway through her pregnancy last year and held a memorial service this year in our chapel.\u00a0Many of us gathered and shared in grieving this loss for our friend and her family.\u00a0The entire service was somber and moving, but one moment will stay with me, and others I am sure, forever. In the middle of the service our friend, the mother of the baby boy, along with another friend, offered a stringed duet of \u201cLullaby\u201d as a praise and tribute to the short life of her son.\u00a0Eternity snuck in again. The Kingdom of God is truly near when we can offer our best gifts in our times of greatest pain. I felt as if I had been permitted to listen to her private lamentation to God. I was reminded, once again, how Christ suffers with us and redeems our suffering for the glory of God.<\/p>\n

One of my favorite authors is Willa Cather, who gained fame by writing stories set primarily in Nebraska. Early in her career, though, she struggled to find her voice.\u00a0She spent a long time merely copying prominent East Coast writers because she admired them.\u00a0At some point, though, she decided to write from her experiences. She said of this turning point, \u201cLife began for me when I ceased to admire and began to remember.\u201d\u00a0My hope, in sharing these two stories, is to remind us of the art of remembering.\u00a0I think remembering is at the core of our lives and our ministries. In remembering, we become more and more aware of God\u2019s faithfulness. I started this piece with Mary Oliver\u2019s admonition and I think it goes well with Cather\u2019s observation about her own life. I hope that we will all, whether we are leaving this place or holding down the fort a bit longer, practice the arts of paying attention and being astonished.\u00a0 Miracles happen every single day.\u00a0When they happen, tell the stories.\u00a0And then take the time, often, to remember them.\u00a0These things, I firmly believe, will sustain us all well in life and ministry. Congratulations, graduates!\u00a0Thanks be to God!<\/p>\n

Shana Hutchings is a senior MDiv Student.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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