Reflections of a candidate for ministry

Brian S. Symonds

Hebrews 11: 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.

9 By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise;

10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

11 By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised;

12 therefore, also, there was born of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.



With Ordination Exams already here and the prospect of graduation in the next year I have been reflecting a lot on where I have come from and where I am on this journey…this “call.” As a GLBT candidate for ministry I consider these milestones to be great accomplishments. Sometimes I even look to the next step and ask, “will that be when I am stopped again?” or “is this as far as I will be allowed to get?”

This passage from Hebrews offers a promise of hope and a promise of care. Abraham was called, he obeyed, and he went out to a place of which he did not know. That takes great faith for anyone to step out and venture into something, making great sacrifices, into a land that they don’t know…a place that may be uncomfortable. And he was honored for that.

Darn right it’s uncomfortable! Sometimes it’s outright painful. And yet, we still continue stepping out. I still get dressed and put on my clothes, and grab my bag and head out to class…to church…to CPM meetings…to Liaison meetings. I don’t know where I am going most of the time. But I go. I follow and I trust that something greater is ahead of me, something that is a blessing from our divine Creator.

We walk, we step out, we take the risk, we continue. We put on our clothes, we grab our bags, and we head out, dusting off our sandals and looking ahead. We do this because we know we must, we’ve been called, we will obey. There is something greater of which has the foundation built by God. Something greater than even the stars in the sky lies ahead.

May our beautiful, wonderfully unique and only Creator bless you and your journey, wherever she may lead you. May you be strong and wise. May your wisdom be spread in and throughout the minds of those who may challenge you. May you continue to look to God’s foundation.

Peace and Blessings are already yours!