God Stories

As an Anglican seminary rooted in the evangelical tradition, Trinity has a long-established custom of asking new students to give their testimonies during orientation. The questions: either 1. describe how you came to faith in Christ or 2. how you came to Trinity.

For the Class of 2010 (that's mine), we got to hear most of those stories yesterday and today. They're what one of my friends calls "God stories."

This was, by far, the coolest part of orientation. We listened to about two dozen people describe God's graceful movement in lives scattered from the Carolinas to Alaska. I think of them as vignettes fit within the glorious story of redemption that God has written. Is writing. Will write.

Orientation is over now. Classes begin on Tuesday.

3 Prayer Requests:

* For the faculty, staff and students at Trinity as they begin or resume study
* For guidance in establishing a balance of worship, work and rest
* For God's help in finding a place of worship in this area

3 Thanksgivings:

* For God stories
* For the safe arrival of my two housemates
* For the beginnings of fellowship among the new students

The Time In-Between

My weeks of being a traveler instead of a Fresno newspaper reporter or a Pennsylvania seminary student are ending.

I moved into my new place in Ambridge on Monday (with a lot of help from some Trinity students). I've spent the past several days organizing, scrubbing and generally trying to get the house in decent shape for my two housemates, who'll be moving in next week.

I'm enjoying this time. It's been a combination of slaying monster dust bunnies, searching for grocery stores and getting acquainted with the sounds of a house that's been around a lot longer than I have.

The OT readings in the Daily Office have been heartbreaking this week. The story of David's dysfunctional family doesn't always hit me like it did yesterday. Absalom did all his power to steal his father's crown, but that didn't stop David's anguish when Absalom was slain in battle against the king's forces.

Here's what David did when he heard the news:

"He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: 'O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!'"

I think about all of the parents I've interviewed who have lived through the death (sometimes the murder) of a child. I think that must be one of the greatest pains in the world.

On the Road Again -- but not until Sunday

The Fresno-to-Ambridge move isn't complete yet, but it's close.

I've been hanging out with my family in Ohio for about a week (which has been nice), and the Ambridge domicile will be ready for move-in on Monday. I'm looking forward to being able to see out the back window of my Honda Civic again. It's been crammed with my junk for weeks now.

Meanwhile, I'll share a few things I've learned during my visit here to Appalachian Ohio (a.k.a. the place where I was raised):

1. Did you know that a Burmese python can crush the air out of a grown man's lungs in 11 seconds? I learned this during an educational snake talk at the Athens County Fair. Naturally, the guy telling us this was petting his Burmese python as he said it.

2. Did you know that worms eat corn? ("Corn worms" as it were). I was introduced to them when I began to clean some non-sprayed, garden corn the other day. There were big worms. There were small, white worms. There were black bugs. Ew. My dad intervened, casually shook the critters off, then cut the bad parts of the corn away. Seriously, it was gross. I kind of wish I had a picture of them to post.

3. Did you know how entertaining it is to watch cars smash into one another? I attended a demolition derby at the Athens County Fair. I enjoyed it so much that I attended another one at the Meigs County Fair the next week. I'm not sure exactly what to make of this development.

Anyway. As admittedly fascinating as all this is, I'm kind of ready to study Greek now.

- 30 -

Back in the day, reporters used to type -30- at the end of their news stories. It was shorthand for "The End."

Going to seminary full-time has meant surrendering my press badge, my notebook and the obligation to fire off pointed questions at public officials in the name of the community's right to know. It's a great job, and I got to do it for eight years in Fresno, Bakersfield, Texas, Oklahoma and Ohio.

A lot of people have asked me if it was hard to leave journalism. Honestly? It wasn't. The day I left the Fresno newsroom, my feet where following where my heart had gone long before.

All that said, it doesn't change my love for the business. Below is a portion of a note I sent to my Fresno Bee colleagues on my final day in the office. In a way, it's written to every conscientious journalist who I've worked alongside:


"Dear colleagues,

I'll keep it short because this isn't the Academy Awards. My first inclination is to say, "You guys rock," but I'll attempt to be a little more articulate.

Journalism isn't an easy profession. But it is noble and vital. I believed that the day I started, and I believe it today. I'm proud to have worked alongside this mix of bulldogs, artists, workhounds, innovators, skeptics and storytellers. Please keep being who you are. This business needs you.

Covering Fresno education involves a big gray lump of bureaucracy, flashes of youthful brilliance and devoted teaching, a liberal spritzing of Machiavellian politics, and a dash of bald lunacy. I'll admit it..sometimes, it's been pretty fun. When it hasn't, you guys have helped make up for it. Big time.

If you're ever in the Pittsburgh area, I'll treat you to a horrible and wonderful sandwich that smashes meat, French fries and coleslaw between two slices of bread. Or, a cup of coffee. You know I'm good for that.

God's grace be with you all, my friends.

Christina"