It has begun. This new journey, that is, toward my doctorate in worship studies.  My first on-campus session concluded today, and my emotions are all over the place.  I'm thrilled about the program I'm in, the cohort I'm part of, and the amazing faculty who will become my new mentors.  Yet I am also a little nervous (mostly excited-type nervous) about the incredible amount of reading and research that I'll be doing and that I need to dive into right away. In addition, I'm still a little speechless over the intensely spiritual and moving chapel services I have been experiencing for the past week-and-a-half. Last night's Healing Eucharist Service left me humbled, grateful, and very tearful.  This morning's service was so moving at times, and I was so choked up, that I couldn't sing -- no matter how hard I tried. Only tears and praise and deep, deep gratitude were flowing.  I honestly don't cry hardly ever, so this definitely caught me off-guard.

IWS places great emphasis on the importance of learning-in-community.  Sharing all our meals together in addition to classes and chapels is a powerful thing.  By the end of this January session, I suppose that my heart had been reshaped far more than I realized. The Lord had been doing a number on me.  Bottom line, it was all good. Very good.

The next 5 months will be extremely busy as I pour myself in the reading, research, and writing of my first "project,"  but the next on-campus session in early June will undoubtedly be here before I know it.