Austin and Friendship

Austin is the coolest city in Texas. Hands down. Do other states have one city that stands so far above the others in “coolness,” I wonder?

Anyway, I went to Austin yesterday to meet a friend of mine for lunch. He’s a minister in a large church, and we have agreed to meet regularly to enjoy what always turns out to be a three-hour conversation. We’re trying to keep each other sane and/or grounded. We’d like to be sane AND grounded, but we’ll take one or the other if that’s all we can get.

This little accountability relationship has blossomed into an outstanding friendship, for which I am very grateful. Thanks Rick.

I also got the chance to meet “Matthias” who writes the blog called “Correction.” He also lives in Austin and is just beginning seminary. He’s got a “junior minister" position in a Methodist church, and the fleshy reality of church has got him wondering just where this journey is leading him. We’ve been planning this little get-together ever since we started trading emails a few months ago.

It was great. I know some of you who read “Real Live Preacher” also read “Correction.” I want you to know that Matthias is the real deal. Passionate, caring, curious, full of endearing doubts and struggles. He’s a serious bible student and a deep thinker. He loves God with all his heart and wants to find the right path in this life.

What else do you need from a minister, really?

So of course he will find it spectacularly hard to find a place in the Church. We mostly like our ministers slick and sure, not earthy and real. That’s a fact. That’s why Matthius will have a struggle.

I pray to God he makes it because we need him. The church needs him. The world needs him.

So I want to say to him publicly what I said to him last night.

Matthias, the struggle is good. Being unsure of what God is calling you to is good. Wrestling with angels and demons in the wilderness is good. Not knowing is good. Being afraid is good. Being real and human and wanting truth so badly that you can taste it is good.

Not fitting in is good.

I couldn't care less whether you end up a pastor with a seminary degree, or just a good man with a good heart.

And I think God will be pleased with either of those too, as long as you never stop being Matthias.

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