This past weekend after 3 years of study, I finally walked across the stage and received my Master of Arts in Contemporary Theology from Lincoln Christian Seminary. It was sort of a strange celebration considering I finished everything long before this ceremony took place, but it was fun to have my parents and Tracy’s parents come up from down south to celebrate with us.

One of the more laughable moments came as I walked across the stage to have my servants towel placed over my right arm. As my future plans about planting a church in San Francisco were read off, the associate dean who “toweled” me began to chuckle, looked me in the eyes and said, “Wow, you’re crazy!” To which I responded “thanks.” As I walked down the steps and back to my seat I began to think about all the other graduates and where they were heading. Many returning back to ministries they have been a part of for years, others looking for ministry teams to join in on, but then a select group were heading off to Afghanistan with the military as chaplains, or to Uganda or Indonesia as missionaries and it struck me—I’m crazy?! What about the danger that many of my fellow classmates are putting themselves and their families into? I’m simply heading off to San Francisco within the confines of the continental United States, they’re heading to distant lands and distant shores in far different contexts than I will ever experience.

This theme seems to be a pretty common occurrence when people find out that Tracy and I are going to SF. We get a particular look, then almost a conciliatory “good luck with that” response. I’m still confused and dumbfounded by that look and response… maybe I’m naive to the intricate culture of SF, and if this is the case I hope to remain in my naivete long enough to make a difference. However, maybe SF has been viewed as one of the last greatest conclaves of iniquity in our country by those in the Midwest and conservative America. Could this be the reason for their response, their reaction? I’m not sure, but it is interesting to me and somewhat encouraging to know that of all the students in the Seminary, I’m the crazy one.