Annual Conference Review

Well, it's been almost a week and really I needed that much time to decompress.
My reaction to Annual Conference has been one of much contemplation, some tears, and a couple of smiles here and there.
All I can say now after much reflection, prayer, and a week of getting back into the swing of things is that somwhere deep inside of me there is still a hope. However, I am not sure that hope was rekindled at Annual Conference.
Sure, there were great things like PET donations giving mobility to almost 600 people, 2500 nets will be bought, thus 2500 lives will be saved, the Watoto Children's Choir sang with so much joy I was in tears the entire time.
But then there was the constant negativity all around me, the feelings of the church sinking, the questions that go unanswered.
Did we really not mention the people of China? The war? And did I really see on the GC Video that "controversial issues were discussed in a holy conferencing way?" How about the fact that people are behind those issues. Come on, it is not hard to figure out what that little 5 second snippet on the video was about.
The hope has been rekindled by talking with colleagues, seeing my Seminary friends "after hours" at Conference, and praying for Orrick UMC--visioning for what the next three years will be like. The hope lies in realizing in just 5 short years, I will be ordained. The hope lies in the learning and growing that happens at SPST. The hope lies in a new Mentor being assigned as a former one moves to a new District. The hope lies in the light of Christ, the call and the dismissal to go out and make disciples.
There are glimmers......Squint, you can see them.