confessions of a seminary wife

Bryan started seminary a year and a half ago, and and this December will mark the more-than-halfway point-- one year left. I can't say the time has flown by. It hasn't. There are a lot of challenges being a couple in seminary--but I know there a lot of blessings too.

the best of seminary:
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fellowship
I've never been around so many strong Christians before, even having gone to Christian school my entire life. The friendships we've formed here have not only made it easier to keep going--the commiserating & rejoicing together--but also inspire us to greater accountability.
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trials  & the faith that comes with them
It seems like ever since Bryan and I got married, God's really taken a hold of us. Boston was one kind of growth and this is another; I feel like everything we're going through by being in seminary is preparing us for Bryan's future full-time ministry, and that they're things we would not have learned had we gone the traditional route and settled down.
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greater sensitivity to the needs of others
When we think about how much others have helped us when we were barely getting by, we can't help but give as much as we can to help others. A lot of times this doesn't look like the traditional way of giving--writing a check--its maybe giving our time, our prayers.
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mastering the art of simplicity
Being in the ministry, I don't think we're ever going to have the money for me to make our place look like an Anthropologie catalog. And thats ok. We've got a roof over our heads, more than enough clothes to keep us warm, a tiny but effective kitchen. Do we really need more?


the worst of seminary:
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no money
With Bryan in school, I'm the main provider--me, with my low-paying hourly secretary job! We aren't Joel Osteen-ing it over here, but we've got what the Bible promises--our daily bread.
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no time
Bryan takes more than a full-load of classes each semester AND works part time AND interns at our church AND makes time to be a wonderful husband to me, always helping around the house, taking me on dates, and making me feel special. I don't know how he does it! For me though, its the opposite--too much time. I'm one of those people that likes to stay busy. But its been good for me, not being in school or working a high-profile job--I've gotten to focus all of my energies, my best, at being a Wife, my first and truest calling. And, I should add, my secretary job has given me more writing time than I've ever had in my life. I've published two chapbooks since being in seminary, and I don't think I would've had the time to accomplish all that if I'd been working somewhere else.
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no settling down
I had to stop watching HGTV, I wanted a house so bad. Not that our 1 bedroom seminary housing apartment is so bad--I've made it as cozy as I can--just the idea of having a house, being settled, not having our friends move away at the end of each semester, being Out of School...


I just want a normal life! I tell God sometimes. Then I remember that there isn't really a "normal." and its really ok if we never own a house, or if I never get the prestigious job, or if finances are always a struggle. I know that we're where God wants us to be, and I'm learning to be content.

“Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:11-13