New Paths

If you would have asked me a year ago "what are your goals in life?" My answer would be completely different to what I would tell you today. A year ago I was in my second week of my MSW. I was comfortable. Surrounded by people I knew, concepts I understood, and professors I had already had. I was going to be a helper, a counselor, a social worker. 

Now, I am sitting in a class at the SDA Theological Seminary. Nothing like my previous social work classes. Instead of prepping myself to work in a secular context, I'm being trained for the ministry. For me, that is a drastic change. Something I never thought that I would be doing. I definitely don't fit the typical ideal of a pastor. Being a pastor was my last option. I came into this thinking I would be a chaplain. Maybe for the army or maybe for a hospital. I didn't want to give in completely to that call I felt to ministry. Maybe I could compromise with God. What I'm realizing is that you don't get peace from compromise. Surrender brings the peace. I'm slowing being brought to the place where I am allowing God to shape me to HIS will and not what my will is or even what others expect of me. 

It's a challenge. Making changes in my life that I don't want to make. I want to hold on to all those things that I have grown to love in the world. Yet, that won't help me in my ministry and my life in general. God is working on me but I finally have the peace that I am where I am supposed to be.