The road not traveled

The tl;dr -I often ponder the road not taken.

I grew up as a #MissouriSynod #Lutheran. This is the most conservative branch of #Lutheranism. Women aren't allowed to touch money and #EarthDay is evil because the earth is here to serve us. To celebrate Earth Day is tantamount to creating a false idol. In 8th grade Pastor Mueller took me aside and asked if I would consider becoming a Lutheran Minister. My answer was a definitive NO. 

My earliest childhood besties were all #Catholic. I won't tag them but if they read this, they know who they are... I admired the Catholic Church's commitment to the poor and downtrodden. Specifically, I admired the #Jesuits. They are dedicated to making the world a better place.

In Lutheranism you are confirmed in the faith at 14 and you're given a #Biblical quote the Pastor has chosen specifically for you. Mine? Matthew 19:30 "But many who are first (on earth), shall be last (in heaven). Many who are last will be first." I am not sure what message Pastor Mueller meant for me but it's a quote I remember. 

#PopeFrancis, the most famous Jesuit, was asked by a shy boy if his non-believing father was in heaven. Despite his lack of faith the father had all four children baptized. The Pope asked the crowd assembled if God would abandon a man who cared so much for his children. "NO!" the crowd yelled back. 

I considered becoming a Jesuit Priest for my final professional act on this planet.

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Journalist John Dickersen, formerly anchor of the CBS Evening News now at the Atlantic, recently interviewed Father James Martin. Father Martin wrote, "Work in Progress: Confessions of a Busboy, Dishwasher, Caddy, Usher, Factory Worker, Bank Teller, Corporate Tool, and Priest". He undersells himself as a corporate tool; as a graduate of Wharton School of Business at U Penn? He had to have been pretty amazing to have simply gained admission.

As a Jesuit Priest Father Martin is a man of the cloth who understands the real world better than anyone. He is not a raging Commie like the Missouri Synod views Catholics. He is decidedly pro-capitalism.  President George W. Bush liked to extol the virtues of "Compassionate conservatism." I doubt Father Martin considers himself a conservative, but I digress. 

Father Martin had a #CrucibleMoment while working at #GeneralElectric, specifically #GECapital. For more on Crucible Moments I refer you to a book written by Professor James Kelley. Father Martin, "When we are more vulnerable, God is able to break in."

"I'm a Jesuit who happens to be a writer. So I'll write maybe an hour or two in the morning... I find it a pleasure. Why is that? Well, first of all, I don't have to make a living off of it. So if the book does well, great, if it doesn't do well I am still going to eat. Second, I don't consider myself a writer. I'm a Jesuit who happens to write. And, third I have another job... I am not an academic writer so I don't have to worry about it being well reviewed or peer reviewed... Finally, I can write about what I want to write about. So I'm really lucky. I mean, since the money goes to the Jesuits... I never have writer's block... it was a total joy." 

Father Martin Founded Outreach Ministries. You can find him on X as @JamesMartinSJ. John Dickersen can be found on #Threads as @JDickersen. 

You can find me considering becoming a Jesuit.