Also this week, I had a conversation with my flatmates about whether we were going to continue living together next year once our current contract on the flat expires. One of the things we talked about was my ability to understand subtle hints.
I realise that the above paragraphs appear to have little connection, except in the conversation we were having in the pub this evening. Said conversation was closely linked to other conversations I have had in pubs this week. And I am trying to work out if these conversations contain a (less than) subtle hint from God.
You see, this evening's conversation was the fourth independent conversation I have had this week (three of which occurred in pubs, for the record - opinion to follow on what this demonstrates) where someone has asked me if I am considering the priesthood. To some of my friends the idea of me as a priest seems entirely alien - they clearly know some of my vices far too well. But so does God, so we'll see..
The first of these four conversations (and the one not in a pub) occurred in a relatively normal place for such conversations to happen, and by itself it probably wouldn't have been something I would have noted. What roughly happened was a quick conversation, whilst preparing for the evening service last Sunday, between Lee (one of the vergers who has just been accepted into training for the priesthood), Brett (a fellow server) and me. And I was asked whether I was considering ordination. As I said a casual conversation in the vestry, of a sort that would normally be washed off and forgotten.
Onto Wednesday, and I was drinking with one of the clergy from the Cathedral, and another friend from there. And again, over a few beers, I was asked had I considered the priesthood.
Once is unlucky, twice is coincidence...
Saturday night I was out for a drink (which turned into a evening in the bar...) after work with a friend. And it sort of happened again that after a couple, Laura and I were talking about whether I was going to become a priest...
...But three times is just plain carelessness
And we come back to this evening. After mass, Guy, David and I decamped to the nearby pub, as is something of our fashion. Initially we were just discussing David's reaction to his first sermon at a major Cathedral service (which btw, was generally quite positive). And then that same question got asked again...
So what is a fourth time?
Now back to subtlety, apparently I'm not very good at getting subtle hints (I wouldn't know, I never noticed any...) Has God stopped being subtle this week? Whilst He has started shouting my name at me in the night (cf 1 Samuel 3), the subtle hints to give this some thought that started about a year ago seem to be starting to be replaced by something clearer!
I'm not sure whether the little advertisement in the church notice sheet each week for a vocations conference is targeted at me too... (And if so, whether it's the Dean's doing or God's - and if there is a difference, and if there is, which matters most!)
So Tom's big question for the week... is this some big kick up the arse I'm meant to be detecting?
PS (mostly for my own benefit, whilst its in mind, I should collate the information) - For a little background, the subtle hints began (again?) at an ordination service I attended nearly a year ago after which a little old lady who I don't think I know asked if she was likely to see me "up there anytime soon". And I can't get that question out of my head. There have a been in the interim a number of other conversations like the ones this week where people have suggested the idea and I've been a little uncertain, but I can't recall details. This week is only notable for the volume!!
PPS - the amount of time I spend in pubs. So this week, my time appears to have divided between work, sleep, the pub and church (not in that order). I don't know whether I should be drawing a link between pubs and the above, but I'm certainly not being a good anglo-catholic, there is no GIN.
PPPS - GIN is a very old in-joke from the Ship of Fools, for now I suggest accepting the reference as one of my many many quirks!
PPPPS - Along with my liking for making extra points on the end of my ramblings, just like this one!
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