processing

It is impossible to even think about trying to fit all that has been going through my head and my heart in the last week and a half.

Last week I had the blessing of being able to hang out with the interim class for the Masters in Spiritual Formation & Leadership program from Spring Arbor University. In previous years, this class was just a stand-alone option, and I audited it a couple of years ago. Richard Foster has taught it for a few years now, and sometimes is joined by his mentor Bill Vaswig, whom I was looking forward to being with this year. I went to a prayer retreat weekend the first year they came to campus, and it was an unforgettable experience -- I am always impressed by the example of Christ in their lives, but also how down to earth they both are.

I'll probably take a couple of posts to touch on some main points that stood out to me, since there was so much. Tonight what comes to mind are the students I met. I was one of the youngest people there, which was really refreshing, because sometimes it is easy for me to look at my own generation as the "only hope" for spiritual renewal in the churches (which I know really isn't true, so go easy), when in this class there was a rich group of diverse people, ages, backgrounds, etc. I sat there one evening and imagined the impact just that group of students might have, and it was astonishing. Not only were they great people, they were so kind to me and encouraging, and I learned so much from them. They made me feel at home with them, even though most of them had already formed online communities in their first semester of classes this fall. It is sometimes hard for me to feel "normal" around Christian adults, for many, many reasons, but I felt they were some kindred spirits. I am encouraged to think about the future of the church when I think of this group and their passion to know Christ more.