Friends

My first sponsoring priest, Father Reed, is in Sewanee this week! He is up here working on his PhD in theology. He has a lot of friends on staff at Sewanee, especially our very talented librarian, who have offered to help him plan his research and prepare for his thesis. It has been a real kick to see Reed; we've been out to lunch and had dinner together the past two nights.

Reed has been a part of my discernment process since late 2005, so it's especially gratifying to see him the week before seminary orientation. It has been a long road and Reed has been a steady guide and source of inspiration. Probably my two favorite things about him are his dry wit and his amazing humility. In spite of being a truly brilliant intellect, Reed has always found a way to connect to every person he meets. I can see Christ in him because he takes no pride in his many gifts; he sees them as God given and feels responsible for using them wisely and productively for the greater good. (From today's readings, John 7:18 – “the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and there is nothing false in him.") Regarding the wit, well I guess you'd just have to know Reed to appreciate that...

Tomorrow night we're hosting our third dinner at our house. This is a new thing for us, as we rarely had people over in Jacksonville - we usually went out. In Sewanee you have neither the financial means to eat out much (we ate at Chili's in Murfreesboro today & it was gourmet! - btw, this is our closest Chili's, it's only 65 miles away!) and you have the added benefit of there being no where to go. Anyway, all seminarians and their spouses have sponsors from the classes ahead of you, so we've had both our sponsors’ families over. Tomorrow night, though, is only juniors, which means it's all first year seminarians. I'm excited about it, it seems so grown up to have my fellow graduate students invited over for a meal. Woo hoo... of course we're having Cuban sandwiches with rice and black beans, so it won't exactly feel like a night in Paris, but it will be fun.

Old friends and new friends, life is good!