Contrast

The snow is coming! The snow is coming! It has been a rather mild winter here in Ohio, but today I am looking out the window at the beginning of a lovely snowfall. Today's rain is expected to turn to ice and then get covered by a couple of inches of snow by morning. Lovely to look at...but nerve wracking if you have to drive.

Februarys are often a mix of contradictions here in Ohio. Whenever I see snow in February, I think of an annual event at the school where I serve. Methodist Theological School in Ohio has an annual scholarship competition each February on our campus. Prospective students come from all over the nation to compete for the Harding award. Every year, it seems like we have great weather all February...until a bunch of prospects drive and fly in for the Harding competition. At that point, there seems to be some weather conspiracy that converges upon the campus. One year, we had an ice storm that effectively shut down the surrounding area. Another year, we (very) slowly drove to dinner over roads covered with several inches of packed snow. This year, I hope for uneventful weather! But no matter what happens, it will be good to meet with a group of enthusiastic prospective students and watch as they connect with their future classmates and colleagues.

The contradiction in weather continues in my mind. I am headed to Las Vegas in just a few days for the Relevance LEAD 2012 conference -  a gathering of one hundred participants that includes young clergy, young lay leaders, and others who are working with young adults in the United Methodist Church.

The expected weather forecast next week? 60s and sunny. That's crazy. Just crazy!

Life is full of contradictions, though. Our ministries take place in a culture that scorns our efforts to transform the world. We have grandiose ideas about our personal calls to ministry...which are flipped upside down when we are confronted with God's will for our lives. We go to school to pursue our dreams...and then learn about new possibilities we never could have even conceived of without the gathered community of study and faith.

I am hopeful that the contradictions in my life push me to continue to respond to God's call on my life in a holy and authentic way, and I hope for the same with you.