We live very well, have good retirement savings and are free of debt, and we lead a simple life full of good friends and family close by. Following God's call means we would sell most of our things, open ourselves up to the idea of poverty and spend three years in seminary immersed in a culture of learning and personal growth. After that God only knows. On the Verge Dear Verge, If God calls you to be crazy, then you should go be the best crazy people you can be, and thank heaven for good friends and family. Before he spends all those years in seminary, though, give him an audition and have him prepare and deliver a six-minute homily.
Brevity is the first step to good preaching.
If he's a gasbag, seminary is only going to encourage his worst tendencies. I've come across some Episcopal priests who put topspin on the prayers and they drive me crazy. Check on these tendencies toward the florid and sanctimonious, please. And then march forward. Dear Mr. Blue, I'm a fairly successful columnist for a daily paper in the West and for the past six months have been working hard on a book, nonfiction, based on a story I reported years ago.