Drama at the Library

You'd think the library would be a pretty cool place to work. Books, study, quiet. But you'd be surprise at the drama there really is behind the scenes. Backstabbing, manipulation and pettiness. Pretty much the same way it is at any job everywhere else. Initiative is not appreciate and every job seems to be micro-managed to death to the point where nothing gets done on time and the people who actually do the work are never rewarded for their efforts. Talk about low morale.

When I began working part-time with the library 3 years ago, I wondered why there were so many sour faces and poor attitudes. Now I don't have to wonder and I'm grateful that I don't have to be here 8 hours a day.

Cruising with the Bishops

During the Special Convention of the Diocese of San Joaquin, I was asked to be the driver and chaplain for the Most Rev. Katharine Jeffert Schori, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, USA. Quite an honor and privilege for a simple guy like me. I was able to spend a lot of time and ask a bunch of questions in the private moments spent driving around the valley. Despite the high roles that bishops play in the church, these are regular people who are thrust in extraordinary positions and doing best they can.

I had the same experience with Bishop Jerry, our new provisional bishop. I travelled with with to pick up furniture for his new digs in Stockton. Just a regular guy. What blew me away was when he reached in his pocket, while driving, for a tin of snuff, took a little pinch to put in his cheek and kept talking. Not something I expected... AT ALL! I'll have to admit that I lost concentration to what he was saying for awhile until I gathered my composure to what I witnessed. I had to process the moment.

School for Deacons

On April 19th, I visited the School for Deacons at CDSP in Berkeley. I had canceled my previous visit scheduled for March 29th since it was the same day as the Special Convention for the Diocese of San Joaquin.

I spent the night at a youth hostel in the fraternity row by Cal Berkeley. Interesting place. Not being one that spent any time living on a campus, I got a sense of how it must seem to have lived in a dorm. I stayed in a musty, dank basement with very bohemian decor.

The School for Deacons is the place for those descerning God's call to service. The Diocese of San Joaquin has not sent anyone to the school in over 20 years due to John-David Scholfield's decision to distance himself from the TEC, conflict with the church's stance on gays and women's ordination. My reception by the students was overwhelming, nearing bringing me to tears with their applause at our diocese's new leadership. Bishop Lamb, our new bishop, is a strong supporter of the school with a great love for the diaconate.

I sat in on several classes and felt very comfortable sharing my thoughts with the other students participating in the subjects of Theological Reflection, Introduction to the BCP and Anglican Theology. I was surprised at how much I actually knew which gave me confidence that this is where God is calling me to be. I still have much to learn and I look forward to attending classes in the fall. I have no idea how I'm going to afford the education, but I'm going to enter this in faith that God will provide a way.

Pray for me and if I actually reach the point of becoming ordained, pray for the Church.