This
morning a friend, who has played basketball at levels higher than I ever dreamed,
likened my recent increase in ministry and employment opportunities to the
momentum a team experiences when there has been even a brief series of successes
on defense and/or offense. A few three-pointers, or a couple of steals in a
row, or any number of other combinations can propel one side forward. What had
been a close contest moves toward a seemingly inevitable victory. When one
player is finding a great deal of that success, it has been said that they have
a “green light” to take whatever shot they choose.
Eavesdropping
on conversations in the publishing and motion picture production industries, I
have also learned what it means to “green light” a project. Here are some of the
green lights that have recently begun falling into place for me.
One of
those green lights this week was the scheduling of my dissertation defense
(also referred to by some as the presentation of my ministry project paper) for
April 4. Because this really is a presentation, and not the kind of defense you
can “lose,” I now know that I will, in fact, graduate from Multnomah Biblical
Seminary in Portland, Oregon on Friday, May 12. Four years of work will have culminated
in being a Doctor of Ministry. (I’d use the abbreviation, but some enjoy
pronouncing it “demon.” So, well…no.)
 |
| Any discussion of green lights has to eventually get to F. Scott Fitzgerald. Right? |
Another
green light, in the sense of getting the go-ahead with other aspects of my
ministry, is the invitation I have accepted to serve Multnomah Biblical
Seminary as an adjunct professor this fall. I will be teaching one course,
being on campus in Reno for just two Friday-Saturday face-to-face sessions with
students, and covering the rest of those responsibilities from the
internet-connection (which interestingly has failed yet again while I type
this) here in my office at the house in Fall River Mills. That means I get to
continue being pastor of The Glenburn Community Church, and be a seminary
professor as well. Gravy!
Still
another green light comes from being part of the faculty for Right On Mission
Vocational Seminary. I accepted an invitation this week along with others from
the faculty being funded (as in “all-expense-paid”) by Church United. We will
be participating in a conference in Washington D.C. entitled “Watchmen on the
Wall” late this May. This is a great opportunity to better understand some of
the priorities and perspectives of those within our government and from within
the Evangelical tradition’s church leadership.
 |
| The view from Jay's dock? |
Finally, this
last “green light” borders on irony, if not the sublimely ridiculous. As some
of you may remember, there had been a number of hateful misrepresentations made
about me to the faculty and staff of my three-time alma mater,[1]
Simpson University, where I was serving at the time as an adjunct professor,
preparing to teach “Old Testament: Kings and Prophets.” In short, the
President, Provost, and Board Chairman had all suggested, recommended, and
requested (though not respectively in that order) to the new dean of the
seminary that I be relieved of my responsibilities. To shorten a long story, I
did teach my class that following Spring. But I have not had a similar opportunity
since. And yet, this past Thursday, I was blessed to guest-lecture in that dean’s
Pastoral Care course on what I refer to as “pastoral thanatology”—encouraging
and equipping our students to serve our dying and bereaved neighbor. Following
that morning’s session, we discussed how we might go about getting similar
training into the hands, hearts, and minds of others throughout the Central
Pacific District of the Christian and Missionary Alliance (my ordaining
denomination).
 |
| Neil Hilborn - conveniently attired. |
So, I am
seeing a lot of green lights.
And that
brings two others into view. Some of us who paid more attention in high school’s
American Literature class may only need to Google the second reference. Others
who are more attuned to social media may only need to Google the first
reference. Those of you who immediately recognize both—well, you are doubly
blessed, indeed! I do hope, though, that all of you take the time to fully
understand what these last two green lights mean to me.
It has
been nearly forty years since I first read about Jay Gatsby’s green light, and
all the hopes for future success and satisfaction that distant glimmer represented.
Gatsby’s green light, of course, never fell fully within his grasp. I have
fears about that green light, and the attractive illusion that somehow there is
a point of arrival, after which I can say, “I am done.”
 |
| Don't blame the fixture. It's just letting you know it's there. |
It has
been a much shorter time since I became acquainted with the work of Neil
Hilborn. Because the signs at each door of my office’s building glow green, I
think of his “exit sign” as another kind of green light. I have fears about
that green light as well. It is, for me, no illusion at all that there could be
a point of arrival, after which I could say, “I am done,” even though, lately, in
the words of Mr. Hilborn, the show has “never been quite bad enough to make me
want to leave.”
So, for
all those who imagine that all we need is for a few things to go well, to go
right, or to go not-quite-so-badly, and we’ll be feeling much better shortly, I’ll
tell you this. For all the other green lights I have seen so recently, it is my
fear of these two others, Gatsby’s and Hilborn’s, that dominates my thoughts,
even now.
[1] To refresh your memory: I hold a
bachelor’s from Simpson College, a master’s of ministry in pastoral counseling
from The Simpson Graduate School of Ministry, and a master’s of divinity from
A.W. Tozer Theological Seminary. In total, the four members of my immediate
family have earned four bachelor’s, three master’s, and two teaching
credentials, and all four of us have been employees of the
college/university/seminary, some among us on multiple occasions.
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