Epiphany

This was a first.

Today's Theology class featured a discussion on predestination. I went into the class with a nasty headache, and the conversation, while fascinating and rich, certainly didn't help.

We worked our way through Augustine and Pelagius and Calvin and Arimaeus and Wesley and Origen. And then the teacher gave us a thumbnail sketch version of Barth's take on predestination (do NOT ask me to replicate it here, because I know I can't just yet).

And there in the classroom I began silently to weep.

I cried because it struck me as so beautiful and so true. I sat there with tears streaming down my face, with joy and relief and gratitude in my heart. They are flowing again as I write this.

After class I went up to the instructor and explained what was going on with me. I thanked him for helping me to hear and understand this. I told him that it was a big fat huge deal for me, and that in this moment I considered him as much or more a pastor than a teacher.

It was for an experience like this that I signed up for classes at seminary. I know it's just a tip of the iceberg, and that I'll need to inwardly digest and keep learning. But for now, just this: thanks be to God.