My life often feels like a whirling dervish of kids, writing, speaking, and pastoral ministry.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
From my youngest days, I always felt certain affinities with the idea of being a preacher.
From my childhood I had been intended for the clergy. This prospect hung like a dark cloud on my mind.
I grew up in a household that had its roots in church and community and culture and poetry and song and in the arts. Those aspects certainly shaped what I do.
I had never really pictured myself working in children's ministries. I always figured I would be more comfortable with maybe teens or adult ministries.
I had a relatively tumultuous childhood.
I have devoted my energies to the study of the scriptures, observing monastic discipline, and singing the daily services in church; study, teaching, and writing have always been my delight.
My life is extremely full and wretchedly busy, and I feel that while my life drains energy from my work, my work in turn drains energy from my life. The result is, I am always playing catch-up spiritually. That is my thorn.
The older I get, the more of a recluse I turn into. I love the social aspect of my work. It's like a commune and gets very intense and very sociable. Then when I am not working, I shut myself away, so I can see myself living up a mountain.
I had a mundane, happy childhood, without much struggle.
I've always reverted to a sense of childhood, just in everyday life.