It starts.............

Well five years on from my 1st phone call to 121 (Church of Scotland HQ!) I head of tomorrow to Tulliallan for my first 'Probationers' conference. Its the start of the next phase and I am really looking forward to it. I have always enjoyed the Candidates conferences - some I know struggle with them, even resent them, but I always found them helpful and enjoyed spending time with other candidates.

This journey toward ministry is a funny old one, so far it has gone like this:

Sept 2003 phone 121
Feb 2004 attended 'Enquirers' Conference
June 2004 start 'extended enquiry'
Aug 2004 start 'Co-ordinated Field Assesment'
Jan 2005 Local Review aka interview from hell
April 2005 Assesment Conference - pass! Stage one complete!

August 2005 First Candidates' Conference
September 2005 Start University
October 2005 Start first placement at Inverurie
September 2006 2nd year at Uni
October 2006 2nd placement at Northfield
June 2006 3rd placement at Rathven l/w Portknockie l/w Findochty
Sept 2007 3rd year at Uni
July 2008 Graduate with a 2:1 honours degree! Stage 2 complete!!

The tomorrow stage 3 starts. Five years it has taken so far. I couldn't have gone through the process any quicker. But a marathon? Hardly - the last 5 years have flown by! And I have loved every minute of it. Especially the last three. I am glad tho' that probation starts tomorrow because this week I have been pining a wee bit for the cobbles of the High Street of Old Aberdeen and the Divinity Library.

Check back next week for an update - the next 7 days will change my life!

Lord God,
my life, our lives are about to change.
But knowing you are there, guiding, loving, ever reliant,
is the reassurance I need.
Thank you Lord for being there to lean on,
for being the small voice of assurance
and the strength I need.
Amen