Getting Practical
I started seminary when I was 23 years old. Newly married, kid-less, and with a husband bringing in a Christian school teacher’s salary, we had just enough to make it month to month. Taking on a seminary education did not involve huge personal or financial sacrifice for me.
I am now 31 years old – and in the last eight years, I’ve met so many people who have given up a host of family, friend, and church connections and a financially padded standard of living in order to train for the ministry. They’ve made difficult decisions and sacrifices that have left them lonely and poor and have taxed their spouses and children.
The anonymous author of The Cloud of Unknowing tells us that
God will never disappoint those who truly abandon worldly concerns to dedicate themselves to him. You can be certain of this: he will provide one of two things for his friends. Either they will receive an abundance of all they need or he will give them the physical stamina and a patient heart to endure it. (Chapter 23)
I have seen one of these two things happen for many of God’s friends. Their stories are encouragements – testimonies to God’s faithfulness.
But I have also encountered many who have decided not to make the sacrifices. I honor their decisions. Who am I to say, from personal experience, that these sacrifices can or should be made? How difficult it must be to uproot, to let go of the paycheck, to tear children away from their schools, to take a spouse away from their work. These are legitimate connections - many of which don’t necessarily fall into the category of ‘worldly concerns’ – that keep people from entering the path to a new calling.
And yet, perhaps some of you who are weighing the sacrifice may find hope in these words from The Cloud. ‘Practical’ concerns are very much a part of the discernment process – they’re part of the spiritual journey – God cares about them. Your heavenly Father knows what you need… “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).
Can I get a witness?
Sure, you can get a witness…a bunch of them, actually!
A few years ago I had an opportunity to interview seminary classmates and their families for a magazine article on student life, mainly through the lens of (varying levels of) financial support from churches (“The Cost of Answering the Call” in the July 2004 issue of The Banner). Hearing their stories was fascinating, inspiring and also helpful for me as my wife and I processed the blessings and challenges of my taking on a seminary education.
Time after time I was reminded of the need to “pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18). During my researching and reflecting I noticed that the exhortation was not to give thanks _for_ all circumstances: loneliness, worry, regrets about uprooting–and resentment about _being_ uprooted–and so on. Even so, time after time I was reminded of the appropriateness, even necessity, of giving thanks _in_ all circumstances. For example, one of my interviewees phoned me up after our interview and very emphatically said to me, “I hope I didn’t give you the wrong impression…yes, we are stressed out generally, and worried about finances specifically. But on the whole we are thankful: for the prayers of so many, for financial aid we do receive, and for the inspiring fellowship from living in community with sem housing neighbours and other friends who are travelling this tough journey with us…and, maybe this sounds weird, but I guess we should give thanks more often for the out-of-the-classroom education we’re all getting along the way, like coping skills we’re developing as we prepare for many challenges and transitions ahead.”
In other words, these people resonated with the anonymous author of The Cloud of Unknowing Heidi quoted: “[God] will provide one of two things for his friends. Either they will receive an abundance of all they need or he will give them the physical stamina and a patient heart to endure it.”
As for the many who have decided not to make the sacrifices—perhaps it is wise they persist in doing so: perhaps their resistance to making the sacrifices in the short term of seminary life indicates a high risk of becoming resentful of the sacrifices they will need to endure in the long term of serving full-time in churches or other high-challenge callings.
Now, I don’t want to give _you_ the wrong impression…I would never tell anyone, “I survived; lots of others survived; suck it up and answer the call already!” I would nonetheless encourage seminary prospects to step forward in faith (after lots of prayer and wise input about discerning the details of God’s call) and to experience that “Those God calls, God also equips” with what they need (even endurance as they wait for what they need)…and in the process they too will be able to “give thanks in all circumstances.”