The "Annus" in Review

I am NOT responsible if you misread the title of this :)

Queen Elizabeth II called 1992 an “Annus Horribilis”—a “horrible year”—because that was the year of so much turmoil in the Royal Family. I’ve seen many people call 2016 the same thing because of the US election results and because we lost so many influential people in so many fields of human endeavor (and there are still 4 days to go).

In some ways, it would be easy for me to label 2016 a personal “Annus Horribilis”: my career took a somewhat expected turn several years sooner than anticipated which led to some serious financial fears until things settled down; my parents have both had significant health issues this year that remind me that they’re approaching 80 as fast as my brother and I are approaching 50; a bout with bronchitis early this year has left me more susceptible to respiratory allergic reactions than in the past; my knees remind me at least twice a week that I could have them replaced tomorrow (or on Monday after my new health insurance kicks in) and be better off. If I focused on these things, I might not get out of bed.

In reality, 2016 was an “Annus Inopinatus”: an unexpected year. I expected to get my doctorate in 2015, but finished, presented, and was granted my degree in May. I expected that I’d be leaving Schellsburg sometime after 2018 or 2019 whether I wanted to or not, but I left in August. I expected that I’d land back in New England, but not necessarily Attleboro, sometime after 2018 or 2019, yet here I am. I never expected to get an academic teaching opportunity so quickly, yet one fell into my lap without me even seeking it out. My faith that God is at work and present in the world has helped me to make these unexpected things into blessings rather than curses. Wrapping my head and my heart around all of it has been a rewarding challenge, especially as I’ve been able to recharge my spiritual batteries, reconnect with the style of sacred music that most warms my soul, ring handbells again, and prepare for the next phase of ministry. And, of course, work on the book that now seems more important than ever given the results of the presidential election.

I’ve discovered a love for true academia this fall as the teaching assistant for a philosophy class at Lancaster Theological Seminary. My other teaching jobs for ministry preparation have involved evaluation and growth metrics rather than grades on an absolute scale; I admit to being somewhat fearful of assigning grades the first time I had exams in front of me. But rubrics helped, as did more familiarity with the subject matter than I would have credited to myself, so in the end, the challenge of fairly evaluating the work of students who will someday be colleagues was enjoyable. Not so incidentally, because of this class, I realized what is missing from my dissertation (because it was not necessary in an academic setting) that needs to be added to the book manuscript…which makes possible revisions for the rest of it rather than complete rewrites.

I’ve developed a relationship with another lay ministry preparation program this fall as a facilitator. I will be serving on the advisory board beginning in 2017 and hopefully continue as a facilitator for additional course. I’m also continuing my work on the steering committee for the national church’s consortium of these regional programs, which takes on new significance as the United Church of Christ rolls out a new Manual on Ministry that will change how we authorize ministers in dramatic ways.

I’ve met amazing teachers in seven school districts in two states. I’ve given a detention and sent students to the office for poor choices. I’ve gotten a note that says I’m “the best sub EVER.” I’ve had teachers go wide-eyed when they realize that “Ruth” is “Dr. Shaver” and thus “Dr. Ruth,” all the while holding their laughter in lest explanations be necessary to students. I’ve worked one-on-one as an aide to students and subbed for special needs teachers, computer teachers, art teachers, music teachers, and in what can only be God’s worst joke, gym. I’ve had students in every grade from Pre-K through high school seniors. And I’ve decided that I would be fine serving in part-time ministry calls because subs are a sorely needed and deeply appreciated part of public education, even if the pay rate is barely state minimum wage here in Massachusetts. Stay tuned: I’m probably going to take the Massachusetts basic certification test at some point this spring, which will allow me both a better pay rate and the potential of long-term sub assignments.

The most unexpected thing about 2016 was realizing just how much love I have in my life. I always knew at an intellectual level—you don’t have five years as an associate and ten as a sole pastor without love providing a lot of support—but in the leave-taking and the homecoming, the mixed up emotions of missing people I had been with for ten years and no longer missing people I hadn’t been with for ten years touched my heart in powerful ways. This realization is important as I move into interim ministry, which means shorter terms in churches but just as much opportunity to love and be loved, and thus to miss and to be missed, as longer term calls. Ministry is a gift and a challenge for this among many reasons; I suspect that like parenthood, being in ministry is one way to understand how God can love every single one of us no matter how bad our decisions and actions may sometimes be.

2017 brings new challenges. It may be just as unexpected as 2016. It may be an “Annus Horribilis” in ways I don’t want to contemplate. What I do believe is that God will be as present in 2017 as God has been present in 2016 and all the years before. So no matter what kind of year comes, it will be a God year. And that makes it a GOOD YEAR, just as 2016 has been!