Willsmama at RevGalBlogPals writes:
Parishioners pushing for carols before you digested your turkey?
Organist refusing to play Advent hymns because he/she already has them planned for Lessons & Carols?
Find yourself reading Luke and thinking of a variety of ways to tell Linus where to stick it? (Lights please.)
Then this quick and easy Friday Five is for you! And for those of you with a more positive attitude, have no fear. I am sure more sacred and reverent Friday Fives will follow.
Please tell us your least favorite/most annoying seasonal....
1) dessert/cookie/family food
Fruit Cake by far!
2) beverage (seasonal beer, eggnog w/ way too much egg and not enough nog, etc...)
I'm kind of grossed out by eggnog
3) tradition (church, family, other)
Christmas Cards =)
4) decoration
The outside lights--because they are a pain to get up.
5) gift (received or given)
I think the worst thing I ever received was a book by Rush Limbaugh! I can't even remember who gave it to me or why they thought I would even want that =)
BONUS: SONG/CD that makes you want to tell the elves where to stick it.I know, I know.... pretty grumpy for November but why not get it out of our systems now so we are free to enjoy the rest of the festivities.
The various versions of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. I really like the song, but they play it like every five minutes on the radio.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Monday, November 26, 2007
A Little Child
"The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them." Isaiah 11:6
During Advent I will preaching from Isaiah. This particular piece of Isaiah is not in this year's lectionary, but I sure did think about it a lot over Thanksgiving week.
My family and I traveled down to Corpus Christi, TX where we spent Thanksgiving with my side of the family. As with all families, there are some really good things about us and some not-so-good things. Families are systems and systems are hard to change (maybe that's enough to say about the characteristics of my family =).
But I knew I would have the hardest time being around my new sister-in-law. I have a hard time relating to her. And so our first night together was awkward (to say the least). We all went out to this fabulous Mexican food restaurant--it is so fabulous that we had to wait to be seated and guess who I got to sit next to?? Of course--my sister-in-law.
I didn't know what to say to her. But as we sat there in silence, my 3 year-old daughter bopped over and crawled right up into my sister-in-law's lap. I watched her as she so easily related...as she so easily smiled...as she so easily shared herself with this person she didn't really know that well either...and I thought of Isaiah.
Isaiah 11:6 has all kinds of unlikely creatures hanging out together, peacefully....all led by a little child. I guess as we get older, life accumulates on us and we just aren't as willing to be so transparent. There is a lot to peel away before I could be as pure and as honest and as open as my little child. But I hope to live out what I say I believe in such fashion...until that day, I suppose a little child will lead me.
Journey On....
During Advent I will preaching from Isaiah. This particular piece of Isaiah is not in this year's lectionary, but I sure did think about it a lot over Thanksgiving week.
My family and I traveled down to Corpus Christi, TX where we spent Thanksgiving with my side of the family. As with all families, there are some really good things about us and some not-so-good things. Families are systems and systems are hard to change (maybe that's enough to say about the characteristics of my family =).
But I knew I would have the hardest time being around my new sister-in-law. I have a hard time relating to her. And so our first night together was awkward (to say the least). We all went out to this fabulous Mexican food restaurant--it is so fabulous that we had to wait to be seated and guess who I got to sit next to?? Of course--my sister-in-law.
I didn't know what to say to her. But as we sat there in silence, my 3 year-old daughter bopped over and crawled right up into my sister-in-law's lap. I watched her as she so easily related...as she so easily smiled...as she so easily shared herself with this person she didn't really know that well either...and I thought of Isaiah.
Isaiah 11:6 has all kinds of unlikely creatures hanging out together, peacefully....all led by a little child. I guess as we get older, life accumulates on us and we just aren't as willing to be so transparent. There is a lot to peel away before I could be as pure and as honest and as open as my little child. But I hope to live out what I say I believe in such fashion...until that day, I suppose a little child will lead me.
Journey On....
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Living in the Now
Saw a great quote at the YMCA this morning. It was not credited to any particular author...
"Learn from the past, but don't dwell. Plan for the future, but don't obsess."
If you're stuck in either place, maybe this saying will help to bring back into the moment.
Journey on...
"Learn from the past, but don't dwell. Plan for the future, but don't obsess."
If you're stuck in either place, maybe this saying will help to bring back into the moment.
Journey on...
Friday, November 16, 2007
Friday Five--Thinking About These Things
Songbird at RevGalBlogPals writes: Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8, NRSV)
Friends, it's nearly Thanksgiving in the U.S. and it's the time of year when we are pressed to name things for which we are thankful. I want to offer a twist on the usual lists and use Paul's letter to the church at Philippi as a model.
Name five things that are true, honorable, just, pure, pleasing, commendable, excellent or worthy of praise. These could be people, organizations, acts, ideas, works of art, pieces of music--whatever comes to mind for you.
1.) I was just blogging about the grief recovery groups that I am leading. I think those people who are willing to come and work the process of grief are true and commendable in so many ways. To be open and honest about grief in this culture is not easy--they are an inspirational to me.
2.) I think the Heifer Project is worthy of praise for the work that it does in trying to create just and sustainable communities.
3.) What is pleasing to me is my family and friends. Particularly my husband and daughter. I never knew unconditional love (outside of God's love) until I met that wonderful man I call my husband.
4.) There are people at my church who are commendable for the amount of time and effort they put into the mission and ministry of the church. I also think the women of RevGals are all commendable for the effort they put into the organization and the thoughts, prayers and ideas that are shared.
5.) I was writing about Kiva in my sermon for this week...which makes me think of the Grameen Bank and Dr. Yunus. What commendable, amazing work!
Friends, it's nearly Thanksgiving in the U.S. and it's the time of year when we are pressed to name things for which we are thankful. I want to offer a twist on the usual lists and use Paul's letter to the church at Philippi as a model.
Name five things that are true, honorable, just, pure, pleasing, commendable, excellent or worthy of praise. These could be people, organizations, acts, ideas, works of art, pieces of music--whatever comes to mind for you.
1.) I was just blogging about the grief recovery groups that I am leading. I think those people who are willing to come and work the process of grief are true and commendable in so many ways. To be open and honest about grief in this culture is not easy--they are an inspirational to me.
2.) I think the Heifer Project is worthy of praise for the work that it does in trying to create just and sustainable communities.
3.) What is pleasing to me is my family and friends. Particularly my husband and daughter. I never knew unconditional love (outside of God's love) until I met that wonderful man I call my husband.
4.) There are people at my church who are commendable for the amount of time and effort they put into the mission and ministry of the church. I also think the women of RevGals are all commendable for the effort they put into the organization and the thoughts, prayers and ideas that are shared.
5.) I was writing about Kiva in my sermon for this week...which makes me think of the Grameen Bank and Dr. Yunus. What commendable, amazing work!
Thinking about the lasts
I don't know if it is because I am leading grief recovery groups and hearing the stories of people who have lost loved ones...but lately I have been thinking about the lasts.
When you have a baby, everyone talks about looking forward to the firsts--first smile, first crawl, first steps. But nobody ever talks about the lasts--the last time your child crawls, the last time they nurse or drink from a bottle, the last time they sit in a highchair or the last time they sit in your lap (see my previous post on this one).
And this pondering of the lasts does not simply apply to babies. We catapult forward through life looking forward to the firsts--first kisses, first drink =), first vote, first love, first job, first day of retirement and on and on. But we are not encouraged or as inclined to spend much time pondering the lasts.
I am hearing a lot about how painfully precious the last things are to people in life--last smiles, last kisses, last goodbyes. I wonder what the world would be like if we looked forward to the firsts, always knowing that somwhere in background the lasts are waiting. Would people slow down? Would they be kinder? Would they complain less and thank more?
Maybe we should ponder the lasts first and see what happens.
Journey on...
When you have a baby, everyone talks about looking forward to the firsts--first smile, first crawl, first steps. But nobody ever talks about the lasts--the last time your child crawls, the last time they nurse or drink from a bottle, the last time they sit in a highchair or the last time they sit in your lap (see my previous post on this one).
And this pondering of the lasts does not simply apply to babies. We catapult forward through life looking forward to the firsts--first kisses, first drink =), first vote, first love, first job, first day of retirement and on and on. But we are not encouraged or as inclined to spend much time pondering the lasts.
I am hearing a lot about how painfully precious the last things are to people in life--last smiles, last kisses, last goodbyes. I wonder what the world would be like if we looked forward to the firsts, always knowing that somwhere in background the lasts are waiting. Would people slow down? Would they be kinder? Would they complain less and thank more?
Maybe we should ponder the lasts first and see what happens.
Journey on...
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Children Need Laptops
I was reading this quote on the side of my Starbucks cup: "All children need a laptop. Not a computer, but a human laptop. Moms, dads, grannies and granpas, aunts, uncles--someone to hold them, read to them, teach them." The quote was from General Colin Powell.
I thought about that quote yesterday and I'll probably be thinking about it a bit today as my daughter is home sick with a cold. She is usually so active, that the only lap time we get is when she is not feeling well and needs a snuggle. She spent a lot of time in my lap yesterday and I must admit that it was nice.
I had a friend and church member, Karen, in Corpus Christi who had two beautiful children. A girl (who was as active and curious as my little one) and a boy (who was a bit younger and quieter). Karen was hosting a Bible study in her home when her daughter, then about 4, ran up and jumped in her lap. She stayed for only a brief moment before flitting off and as she did, we noticed that Karen had a tear welling up in her eye. She said, "you never know when it will be the last time they'll want to sit in your lap."
Those prophetic words ached painfully when, a week later on Thanksgiving Day, Karen suddenly died of cardiac complications. The shock and pain of that loss to everyone was overwhelming. I can't imagine what it has been like for her children these past six years since Karen's death.
And so I try to hold my child just a moment longer in my lap because who knows what the next moment may bring. I hope I am around for a long, long time to be there for my daughter, to provide a lap in which to sit and a loving heart to share. But I also know that there will come a day when my lap will not suffice...my kisses won't heal the boo boos that life will throw at her.
The hardest thing about being a parent isn't all of the challenges of raising a child--it is loving someone so much that you feel as though your own heart is walking around outside of your body. And when I feel how wonderful and awful that is...I remember that God feels the very same thing.
Father...Mother...Creator God made us and loves us so much that when God looks on us, God sees his own heart walking around in the world. Each one of us is that important. So maybe today, we'll find time to sit in the Divine lap...to let God kiss the big and small boo boos that life has thrown at us...and find peace.
Journey on...
I thought about that quote yesterday and I'll probably be thinking about it a bit today as my daughter is home sick with a cold. She is usually so active, that the only lap time we get is when she is not feeling well and needs a snuggle. She spent a lot of time in my lap yesterday and I must admit that it was nice.
I had a friend and church member, Karen, in Corpus Christi who had two beautiful children. A girl (who was as active and curious as my little one) and a boy (who was a bit younger and quieter). Karen was hosting a Bible study in her home when her daughter, then about 4, ran up and jumped in her lap. She stayed for only a brief moment before flitting off and as she did, we noticed that Karen had a tear welling up in her eye. She said, "you never know when it will be the last time they'll want to sit in your lap."
Those prophetic words ached painfully when, a week later on Thanksgiving Day, Karen suddenly died of cardiac complications. The shock and pain of that loss to everyone was overwhelming. I can't imagine what it has been like for her children these past six years since Karen's death.
And so I try to hold my child just a moment longer in my lap because who knows what the next moment may bring. I hope I am around for a long, long time to be there for my daughter, to provide a lap in which to sit and a loving heart to share. But I also know that there will come a day when my lap will not suffice...my kisses won't heal the boo boos that life will throw at her.
The hardest thing about being a parent isn't all of the challenges of raising a child--it is loving someone so much that you feel as though your own heart is walking around outside of your body. And when I feel how wonderful and awful that is...I remember that God feels the very same thing.
Father...Mother...Creator God made us and loves us so much that when God looks on us, God sees his own heart walking around in the world. Each one of us is that important. So maybe today, we'll find time to sit in the Divine lap...to let God kiss the big and small boo boos that life has thrown at us...and find peace.
Journey on...
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Home
I realized something about myself yesterday. While I am out and about, if I see someone wearing a UT sweatshirt or a Dallas Cowboys hat, I smile. What I realized is that I am not smiling because I am a huge Longhorn or Cowboy fan, but because seeing those emblems on t-shirts and hats reminds me of home.
I lived in Texas all of my life. Moving to Washington State was my first out of state move (and of course I picked the farthest place, too). So it is nice to have little reminders of the Lone Star State.
The other day I was walking out of the grocery store wearing a sweatshirt bearing my Alma Mater's name--TCU. A man walking behind me said, "TCU--are you a horned frog?" I was stunned. I said, "I am...are you a Texan?" He said, "No I'm not, but my brother is...he lives in Corpus Christi, TX." I was even more stunned because Corpus Christi, TX is my hometown. I smiled a lot that day.
Now don't get wrong. I love living in Washington State and am in no hurry to move back to TX. But it is nice to have little reminders of home. We get other little reminders of our eternal home, if we but look up and notice them...stop rushing around so much to realize them. God is all around us--in nature, in people, in church--giving us living things to smile about, reminding us of our home.
And it's not that we necessarily want to hurry off to that eternal home soon, but the little reminders are nice. They lift our hearts a little and let us know that there is a place for us beyond this place. If we can recognize them, they'll make a smile a whole lot.
Journey on...
I lived in Texas all of my life. Moving to Washington State was my first out of state move (and of course I picked the farthest place, too). So it is nice to have little reminders of the Lone Star State.
The other day I was walking out of the grocery store wearing a sweatshirt bearing my Alma Mater's name--TCU. A man walking behind me said, "TCU--are you a horned frog?" I was stunned. I said, "I am...are you a Texan?" He said, "No I'm not, but my brother is...he lives in Corpus Christi, TX." I was even more stunned because Corpus Christi, TX is my hometown. I smiled a lot that day.
Now don't get wrong. I love living in Washington State and am in no hurry to move back to TX. But it is nice to have little reminders of home. We get other little reminders of our eternal home, if we but look up and notice them...stop rushing around so much to realize them. God is all around us--in nature, in people, in church--giving us living things to smile about, reminding us of our home.
And it's not that we necessarily want to hurry off to that eternal home soon, but the little reminders are nice. They lift our hearts a little and let us know that there is a place for us beyond this place. If we can recognize them, they'll make a smile a whole lot.
Journey on...
Friday, November 9, 2007
Friday 5
Sally at Revgalblogpals writes:
I am writing in my official capacity of grump!!! No seriously, with the shops and stores around us filling with Christmas gifts and decorations, the holiday season moving up on us quickly for many the time from Thanksgiving onwards will be spent in a headlong rush towards Christmas with hardly a time to breathe.... I am looking at the possibility of finding little gaps in the day or the week to spend in extravagant unbusyness ( a wonderful phrase coined by fellow revgal Michelle)...So given those little gaps, name 5 things you would do to;
1.to care for your body
I have already started working on this one....for the last 8 weeks or so I have been getting up early and working out. Sometimes (if it is a nice morning) I'll walk. But since it is pretty dark in the morning's now, I go the YMCA. I feel wonderful.
2. to care for your spirit
Music has always been a balm for my soul. So I listen to my ipod when I work out (I put a whole bunch of new songs on it last week...my husband snuck a funny one in that made me laugh out loud while I was on the treadmill). Additionally, I find myself listening to it throughout the day. And maybe more importantly, I have been sitting down at the piano and playing.
3. to care for your mind
I have ordered the books for the upcoming Revgalblogpals discussions =). I am hoping to find some time in those little spaces to read. I do love reading and realize that I haven't been feeding my mind in that way much.
4. to bring a sparkle to your eye
My husband and I will be traveling to Texas for Thanksgiving. I grew up in Texas and the one thing I really want to do that I haven't done in a long time is go two-steppin' (if I can talk John into it =). So to bring a spark to my eye, I might try hitting a country western bar while I'm there =) hehe
5. to place a spring in your step
The working out thing is really helping with that. The better I feel physically, the springier my step is =).
and then for a bonus which one on the list are you determined to put into action?
What I am determined to put into inaction is worrying--there are so many details and things that can get overwhelming this time of year. So I am truly hoping to maintain a bigger picture perspective and not sweat the small stuff so much.
I am writing in my official capacity of grump!!! No seriously, with the shops and stores around us filling with Christmas gifts and decorations, the holiday season moving up on us quickly for many the time from Thanksgiving onwards will be spent in a headlong rush towards Christmas with hardly a time to breathe.... I am looking at the possibility of finding little gaps in the day or the week to spend in extravagant unbusyness ( a wonderful phrase coined by fellow revgal Michelle)...So given those little gaps, name 5 things you would do to;
1.to care for your body
I have already started working on this one....for the last 8 weeks or so I have been getting up early and working out. Sometimes (if it is a nice morning) I'll walk. But since it is pretty dark in the morning's now, I go the YMCA. I feel wonderful.
2. to care for your spirit
Music has always been a balm for my soul. So I listen to my ipod when I work out (I put a whole bunch of new songs on it last week...my husband snuck a funny one in that made me laugh out loud while I was on the treadmill). Additionally, I find myself listening to it throughout the day. And maybe more importantly, I have been sitting down at the piano and playing.
3. to care for your mind
I have ordered the books for the upcoming Revgalblogpals discussions =). I am hoping to find some time in those little spaces to read. I do love reading and realize that I haven't been feeding my mind in that way much.
4. to bring a sparkle to your eye
My husband and I will be traveling to Texas for Thanksgiving. I grew up in Texas and the one thing I really want to do that I haven't done in a long time is go two-steppin' (if I can talk John into it =). So to bring a spark to my eye, I might try hitting a country western bar while I'm there =) hehe
5. to place a spring in your step
The working out thing is really helping with that. The better I feel physically, the springier my step is =).
and then for a bonus which one on the list are you determined to put into action?
What I am determined to put into inaction is worrying--there are so many details and things that can get overwhelming this time of year. So I am truly hoping to maintain a bigger picture perspective and not sweat the small stuff so much.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Thursday morning
I am up early this morning and have some time for blogging. I was hoping for some grand inspiration--but I'm not feeling really inspired. I think it's too early and I haven't had coffee yet =)
In my prayers, I am aware of how much I worry. I worry about tomorrow a lot and have to remind myself to remain in today. It's a challenge for me. I was reading an old journal of mine from when I was a CPE resident at Parkland Hospital in Dallas. A woman had tragically lost her husband and I wrote down something that she had said to me: "We were always getting ready to do a whole bunch of things."
It was good to read that and remember not to get so caught up in tomorrow, because we just don't know how many tomorrows we have.
I am in the middle of a Stewardship campaign at my church. I love my church...and I worry about my church. In my two years there, we have run deficit budgets and pulled from reserves to get by. It doesn't take rocket science to figure out what will happen down the road if the trend does not change (and so far is hasn't).
I don't know if it is that people cannot give more or that they don't give more. My sermon this past Sunday was received very well, but one person made an interesting comment, "you don't offend." She meant it as a compliment...but I wonder why is it so offensive to think that it takes real dollars and cents to run a church? Maybe I should be more offensive.
I never pictured myself leading a "dying church" and I'm not altogether convinced that that is where we are. But I also acknowledge that death is a part of life...and in faith, there has to be a death before there can be a resurrection.
I don't know what kind of death we must experience at this church before there will be a resurrection. I don't know exactly what the future holds (thought I worry about it endlessly). But for now, I don't want to be "getting ready to do a whole bunch of things." If I (and the church members) can be faithful in the present and do the best we can, even if we go out...at least we can go out with a bang.
Journey on...
In my prayers, I am aware of how much I worry. I worry about tomorrow a lot and have to remind myself to remain in today. It's a challenge for me. I was reading an old journal of mine from when I was a CPE resident at Parkland Hospital in Dallas. A woman had tragically lost her husband and I wrote down something that she had said to me: "We were always getting ready to do a whole bunch of things."
It was good to read that and remember not to get so caught up in tomorrow, because we just don't know how many tomorrows we have.
I am in the middle of a Stewardship campaign at my church. I love my church...and I worry about my church. In my two years there, we have run deficit budgets and pulled from reserves to get by. It doesn't take rocket science to figure out what will happen down the road if the trend does not change (and so far is hasn't).
I don't know if it is that people cannot give more or that they don't give more. My sermon this past Sunday was received very well, but one person made an interesting comment, "you don't offend." She meant it as a compliment...but I wonder why is it so offensive to think that it takes real dollars and cents to run a church? Maybe I should be more offensive.
I never pictured myself leading a "dying church" and I'm not altogether convinced that that is where we are. But I also acknowledge that death is a part of life...and in faith, there has to be a death before there can be a resurrection.
I don't know what kind of death we must experience at this church before there will be a resurrection. I don't know exactly what the future holds (thought I worry about it endlessly). But for now, I don't want to be "getting ready to do a whole bunch of things." If I (and the church members) can be faithful in the present and do the best we can, even if we go out...at least we can go out with a bang.
Journey on...
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Sitting with Job
I am off Lectionary this week and next as we are in the middle of a Stewardship campaign. But I have been reading the lectionary texts for this week and one, in particular has struck a chord:
“O that my words were written down! O that they were inscribed in a book! O that with an iron pen and with lead they were engraved on a rock forever! For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last he will stand upon the earth; and after my skin has been thus destroyed, then in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see on my side, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!" Job 19: 23-27
I haven't done much study on the text, but on the surface I recognize a painful longing to believe in the hurting heart, what is known in the logical mind. Job knows that "my Redeemer lives"...but if only those words could be written down...concrete...certain. If only in the midst of pain and confusion, the heart could feel with great confidence the hopeful promise the words hold.
I read the passage from Job and felt like I was sitting with him--in a moment in time where things just don't make as much sense as I'd like them to. I have gone public about the fact that I had an early-term miscarriage in September.
Now in my head I say, "it was early...it was better this way...at least we didn't have to make hard decisions down the road." If only those words could be written down...concrete...certain. If only my heart could feel the same way.
As a pastor, I'm not really sure what to do with my own grief...how much to share...where to cry the tears. I have fallen back on my default of listening and playing music. It is a way of praying and being in the presence of God that is beyond inscribed words. The music helps me to feel that hopeful promise that "my Redeemer lives" and, somehow, so do all of the loved ones and hopes and dreams that we have lost in life.
Journey On...
“O that my words were written down! O that they were inscribed in a book! O that with an iron pen and with lead they were engraved on a rock forever! For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last he will stand upon the earth; and after my skin has been thus destroyed, then in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see on my side, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!" Job 19: 23-27
I haven't done much study on the text, but on the surface I recognize a painful longing to believe in the hurting heart, what is known in the logical mind. Job knows that "my Redeemer lives"...but if only those words could be written down...concrete...certain. If only in the midst of pain and confusion, the heart could feel with great confidence the hopeful promise the words hold.
I read the passage from Job and felt like I was sitting with him--in a moment in time where things just don't make as much sense as I'd like them to. I have gone public about the fact that I had an early-term miscarriage in September.
Now in my head I say, "it was early...it was better this way...at least we didn't have to make hard decisions down the road." If only those words could be written down...concrete...certain. If only my heart could feel the same way.
As a pastor, I'm not really sure what to do with my own grief...how much to share...where to cry the tears. I have fallen back on my default of listening and playing music. It is a way of praying and being in the presence of God that is beyond inscribed words. The music helps me to feel that hopeful promise that "my Redeemer lives" and, somehow, so do all of the loved ones and hopes and dreams that we have lost in life.
Journey On...
Friday, November 2, 2007
Friday Five
Mother Laura at Revgalblogpals writes:
Songbird just had an interview for a "vague and interesting" possibility, and More Cows than People is doing campus visits for doctoral programs. There always seem to be a few RevGals applying for new positions, and I just got my first call for this year's preliminary interviews for college teaching jobs at the American Academy of Religion meeting in San Diego coming up in a few weeks. It's for my dream job among this year's offerings, and I am flip flopping between excitement and nervousness. So please keep your fingers crossed and say a little prayer for everyone facing such conversations, and share your thoughts on the wonderful world of interviews:
1. What was the most memorable interview you ever had?
I think my most memorable interview was my Ordination interview. All the members of the Commission on the Ministry were present. The were sitting in this large board room around a huge table. When I walked in, they all stood up and when I reached my seat (at the head of the table of course), they all sat down. I was SO nervous
2. Have you ever been the interviewer rather than the interviewee? If so, are you a tiger, a cream puff, or somewhere in between?
I have been the interviewer. My tendency is to be more of a cream puff, but I have learned if you don't be somewhat of a tiger, you may end of hiring the wrong person for the job.
3. Do phone interviews make you more or less nervous than in-person ones?
I don't like in phone interviews because you can't read any non-verbal cues. I really like eye contact and reading people's expressions. So I find phone interviews more difficult.
4. What was the best advice you ever got to prepare for an interview? How about the worst?
I don't know that anyone has ever really given me any advice, other than be yourself. Which has always worked pretty well =)
5. Do you have any pre-interview rituals that give you confidence?
Prayer. Prayer. Prayer. Just before I left my apartment to go to my nerve-wracking ordination interview, there was a knock at the door. I had been fitted for my robe the week before. I was told it would take 4-6 weeks to arrive. When I went to answer the door, it was the UPS man with my robe. somehow, that was a sign for me that everything would be okay.
Songbird just had an interview for a "vague and interesting" possibility, and More Cows than People is doing campus visits for doctoral programs. There always seem to be a few RevGals applying for new positions, and I just got my first call for this year's preliminary interviews for college teaching jobs at the American Academy of Religion meeting in San Diego coming up in a few weeks. It's for my dream job among this year's offerings, and I am flip flopping between excitement and nervousness. So please keep your fingers crossed and say a little prayer for everyone facing such conversations, and share your thoughts on the wonderful world of interviews:
1. What was the most memorable interview you ever had?
I think my most memorable interview was my Ordination interview. All the members of the Commission on the Ministry were present. The were sitting in this large board room around a huge table. When I walked in, they all stood up and when I reached my seat (at the head of the table of course), they all sat down. I was SO nervous
2. Have you ever been the interviewer rather than the interviewee? If so, are you a tiger, a cream puff, or somewhere in between?
I have been the interviewer. My tendency is to be more of a cream puff, but I have learned if you don't be somewhat of a tiger, you may end of hiring the wrong person for the job.
3. Do phone interviews make you more or less nervous than in-person ones?
I don't like in phone interviews because you can't read any non-verbal cues. I really like eye contact and reading people's expressions. So I find phone interviews more difficult.
4. What was the best advice you ever got to prepare for an interview? How about the worst?
I don't know that anyone has ever really given me any advice, other than be yourself. Which has always worked pretty well =)
5. Do you have any pre-interview rituals that give you confidence?
Prayer. Prayer. Prayer. Just before I left my apartment to go to my nerve-wracking ordination interview, there was a knock at the door. I had been fitted for my robe the week before. I was told it would take 4-6 weeks to arrive. When I went to answer the door, it was the UPS man with my robe. somehow, that was a sign for me that everything would be okay.
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