What do I know now?

My loyal readers are pretty much my family and friends (love you all!).  So, it should be no surprise to anyone I was ordained a week ago yesterday.  But, just in case I have some secret followers out there, I will say a bit more.

Last Saturday I was ordained into ministry in my tradition, the United Church of Christ.  It was a culmination of years of study and prayer.  My call, or where I will do my ministry, is the hospital where I serve as hospital chaplain.  This is a rather rare thing, in that more often that not, people are ordained into a call to serve a church, not a hospital.  But I don't like to fit into a mold.  And even more importantly, I feel called to serve God and God's people in the hospital setting.  I am a dedicated member of my church and do serve in some ways, but I am not called to lead a congregation.

So, I week ago yesterday, I was ordained into ministry.  It was an incredible experience.  The service was simply amazing.  In fact, I would describe it as perfect.  The Holy Spirit was clearly at work in our sanctuary.  God's presence was indeed all around.  And through the laying on of hands, I felt the weight of God's love pressed in around me.  Not so much I could not hold up my head, but just enough to know it was there and it was real.

And as I moved through this week, I kept thinking: How am I different?  Do I look different?  Do I act different?  Do I know things now I didn't know before last Saturday?

I am not entirely sure of the answers.  Now, I didn't have some sort of 'magical' experience.  I was not given some sort of special, minister-y, knowledge or wisdom.  And I think this is a very important point to make.  For those who are not in the ministry and interact with those who are, there can be a perception the minister is closer to God, or knows more about God.  This is simply not true.  The minister is a human being, in all of are frailties and ridiculousness, just like everyone else.  We have simply heard a call to serve God and God's people through ministry.  Our call is one of infinite numbers.  Every single person is called to serve in some way.  This I know for sure.

I may not know anything more than I knew before I was ordained.  But I am different.  I am different in some sort of intangible way I cannot quite yet explain.  I don't think I look or act any different, but my Spirit is more complete.  I have felt the calling of God to serve and that calling has been made real.  But it is not complete.  I am not done.  In fact, I am just getting started.

I am almost ashamed to admit this, but I could not remember all of the vows I took last Saturday (gasp I know).  I had read them many times throughout the years and I do know them, but I cannot recite them verbatim.  But this does not mean they are not important to me.  No, they are incredibly important and vital to my being.  I did not take them lightly.  I will never take them lightly.  I have written them out and fully intend to keep them visible in my life until they become a part of my being.  I want to live out my vows in very real ways.

And this leads me, in a rather haphazard way, to my new Life Experiment.  I hope you can follow.  On Saturday I vowed before God, family, friends, and church to "accept the word of God as the rule of Christian faith and practice."  Then on Sunday, my pastor preached a great sermon about the 10 Commandments.  I don't think I have to prove to anyone the 10 Commandments are a part of the word of God.  Yes they have been written down by mortals, but they are clearly a part of the Christian life.  And as I listened to my pastor preach I started to think, "Hmmm, I don't think I ever really think about the 10 Commandments in my daily life.  Maybe I should give it a try."  Since I had just taken vows to live a Christian life and preach and teach the Christian life, I started to think I should really try to figure out what the 10 Commandments are all about.  I have to start somewhere and they seem like a good place.

So, this will be my new Life Experiment (and now that the television seems to be permanently off after my last Life Experiment, I have plenty of time).  Beginning Monday, for the next 10 weeks, I will make one Commandment at a time a major part of my life and focus.  I will give it energy.  I will wrestle with it.  I will take it seriously.  Every week I will add the next Commandment, until I have given each the attention they (and God) deserve.  Throughout the week I will share any major insights or developments.  Then on the following Monday I will share my final thoughts and up date you on the next Commandment I will study. 

I have a feeling this could be interesting (in the good theologically geeky way I live my life).  I hope you will at least find it amusing. 

As per my norm, I will take the weekend off from posting.  But I promise to be thinking!  See you next week!