Last Class of Spring

I wake today remembering that it would have been Dad's 86th birthday. All day, little snapshots of things my Dad did come floating to my mind. I rise early, open the library, thinking about Dad's huge collection of books, rightly termed his library. He was an avid reader, and not just theology books. I think he missed his true calling, that of an inventor. He loved mechanics and engineering and idea driven conversations.

I try to catch up with library work, having missed last Friday. My desk is piled with things that I need to take care of. So many summer projects! The day flies by, and I head over for my last class in Pastoral Care. I have much respect for our professor. She is truly amazing in how she takes care of people. I am not at all sure I could ever deal with all the things she routinely handles. People have messy lives. It is not easy coming alongside stubborn and sinful creatures while they shoot themselves and then whine about the pain.

Our professor brings to class a feast! Cupcakes and strawberries. Big juicy sweet strawberries. And bottles of fresh water. Sooooo good. We pack a ton of notes and discussion into our last few hours together. She has been extremely generous in sharing resources with us, in being totally frank about what we are likely to encounter. About how and where we can reach out for assistance when we are facing problems bigger than a simple conversation and prayer can deal with.

There is much to think about. I wonder how my Father handled all these sorts of situations. I know he must have encountered many of them in his decades of pastoring. It matters not whether you are in large church or small, in town, village or big city. People are the same everywhere. You can get into trouble no matter your environment. It is the heart that drives the life situations.

It has been a long day. Tomorrow will also begin early. I drive home ready to hit the sheets. As I read my Compline devotions, I find myself hoping that I will not be called upon to deal with some of the sorts of situations we looked at in class. It will take more grace than I have ever seen. What on earth am I getting into?!