Coming into my namesake

So, I was just thinking about how I feel a calling to being a "bridge". The order of the Deacon is suppoesd to be this - bridging the church and the world, bridging clergy and laity, etc. I feel called to bridge the needs and concerns of the world at large with the often inwardly-turned church that I'm a part of. I also feel called to create space for healing for those who have been burned by the church or otherwise don't connect with what the church has for a long time become about, etc. And I feel called to bridge cultures - through my interest in/passion for Latin America and Hispanic cultures, and hopefully I'll visit other countries and continents. Called to bridge via language - my interest in/passion for Spanish, hopefully learning other languages, too - and my interest in general semantics plays in there, too - since it's all about the way language affects the way we relate with others and ourselves, etc. Called to bridge religions, because as Hans Kung says "There shall be no peace without peace between religions".

Anyway - there's just all of this bridge stuff all over the place, and I can't believe that I was actually born with the last name of "Bridges", to boot - plus, my hometown is Bridgeport. How much more called could I be to the work of a deacon? When I think about this, I'm a little more comforted by my not pursuing the order of elder, as well as going ahead with ordination and not just choosing the lay ministry route.

But, (deep breath) as always, I will leave myself open to being led in other directions and try not to cling to that which I feel is coming to identify me. (attempt at a Zen moment)

It'd be nice if I knew what else I were being called to, though - like, should I really go through with the M.Div.? Should I get an M.A. in something else too, or an MSW, or something else? Which academic interest should I pursue? Which professional stuff should I pursue? Should I just go live with the Aymara and let them teach me how to be part of a community, since that's what it's all about anyway, and then try and come back and teach the rest of the Western world? Haha - like that would even work.

We'll see where this goes.