CAN I still think Theology?
What ever does that mean? Well I recall when the children were little and we were in Bryan TX I was taking family leave and having fun with the kids. I would on occasion preach at a church somewhere in the presbytery but mainly I was Reverend Mother..
I did attend the college youth program at TAMU and enjoyed my interaction with the college students. I also was mentor for two of the interns there.
One year a young Middler Student from Princeton came to do an internship. We had a good relation but she couldn’t imagine taking time “off” as I had from ministry to
be home with the kids.
The program had a yearly retreat at a nearby church camp. I had gone the year before so I knew the routine. There would be a general announcement in all the cabins that it was time to get up. The Intern was in charge of that duty this year and she and I made a plan.
The first morning, when it was time for waking we put on a tape, (that dates this story eh?) playing Mr. Rogers theme song. It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood…a beautiful day for a neighbor. The college students laughed or shouted when it came on. Either way they got up. There was one student who kept asking who had done that! He was going to stop them from doing it the next morning.
The whole retreat unfolded in a wonderfully dynamic way and a good time was had by all. The intern and I were ready for the next day. Sesame Street theme woke them this day. Sunny day keeping the clouds away… on my way. We played the theme song, ran to the cafeteria
Poured ourselves 1/2 cup coffee, put cold water in it so it was tepid and sat at the table. The minute we sat down we saw that student racing across the yard trying to get to the sound studio. We could see him open the door, look around, and then run toward the cafeteria. HA! He said when he saw us. I said, “What?” We’ve been up for a while who did the music?” He said no you haven’t you’ve got coffee and he picked up my cup and took a sip and it was cool. He put it down, befuddled. He left.
We laughed so hard. Though he asked again and again trying to find out who it was, he was unsuccessful. Our little fun ruse had worked.
Can I still think theology? After the second year of working with the students a professor came from Austin Seminary as he was the faculty mentor for the student. I liked what he did and asked if it would be possible for me to do an independent study, unofficial reading study with him to see if I could talk something but Sesame Street. We set up a time.
I went over and he enrolled me with no fee. Austin Accepted without official document the info about my degree from Vanderbilt Divinity School. I began a 6 week study of a current book in pastoral care. They asked me if I wanted to take the course for a grade and at first I said Yes, then coming to my senses said. NO grade.
We had some fine conversations and established an easy report. (One that later dissolved in flames when my final D.Min. project came due. I said in my paper that rituals resonated with women’s life story. He said, resonated? What the heck is resonated?) I did discover that I could think on a theological level. It was helpful.
I’ve been retired for over a year now and sometimes wonder to myself if I can still think theologically. I do know I’m a hard critic of sermons I hear. Not because of their content but I’m more critical of style. During this pandemic when preaching has become an entirely new exercise in presentation I know it might be harsh. But there you go.
I read the weekly passage for the sermon and without trying to being crafting a sermon, or thoughts on the pericope. What background do I know? What illustrations might I use? Where might I go to find out more about a topic or do research on a word that has meanings unexplored in the sermon. There is still that in me after 42 years.
(Rarely do I sleep soundly on Saturday Night though I have nothing to do Sunday mornings and we worship Online, sometimes in pajamas with coffee.).
Perhaps what I really need is a discipline. A time every day to read scripture and write about it,
Or I could perhaps comment on something I read in the NYTimes. Or I could just pull up a memory and go with that….But write about it. I could call it.. What I am reading.
t seems the best time for that would be early morning. Even though I sometimes don’t get to sleep till late, the early morning might well be the best time for writing? I could put them on my blog. Let Facebook know I’d posted something.
Maybe a good discipline.
What do you think?
In the meantime…
God abide bobbie giltz mcgarey
02.03.21
The Spirit Will Tell You 