I can come up with a new post but I can't also come up with a title. Sorry.

Hellooo Internets. April is finally over. Finally. Not that anything I've had to do is any more or less than anyone else has to deal with, its just that I was woefully unprepared for all of it and ended up feeling like I wasn't doing any of it well.

Two big projects came due at my full-time, less-enjoyable/fulfilling job and two events occurred at my part-time, more-enjoyable/fulfilling job. Add to the mix that I have been on a search committee at church for the last almost-year to help find a new priest and much of that work all culminated in April. It's been as consuming and in many ways is more stressful than either of the paid gigs - what with all the pressure from God and stuff.

Don't get me wrong, it's been a great experience, but we're just now getting down to the big stuff and it's starting to wear on me. Probably due in part that I'm really much closer to being a Pagan than a Christian (certainly by the Bible-belt standards surrounding me I am). But thankfully I've managed to find myself in a group of free-thinking, inclusive, mostly-liberal, wacko Episcopalians who think that church isn't for sitting and watching, its for going and doing. And by going and doing I don't mean converting and condemning. I mean feeding and clothing and that kind of thing. "Comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable" as one of our associate priests says. And I like that. And so for a NearPagan I spend a lot of my time at church and have recently spent a tremendous amount of time looking for a new priest.

I had an epiphany not too long ago that the person I want to be my priest needs to have the same basic qualities that I want in my president. A big revelation for the person who throws herself to the floor in a fit at the slightest violation of church and state separation.

When it comes down to it, what I want is a person

• who is of any gender, ethnicity, age, culture, etc., etc., etc.
• who is patriotic and faithful but doesn't use the flag or religious text as a weapon or a license for exclusion and oppression.
• who doesn't have to be the smartest person in the room, but does need to be a critical thinker, an articulate speaker, and get competent people to help and advise.
• who doesn't need to solve all of my problems or the world's problems, but needs to work hard for justice and peace however and whenever possible.
• who doesn't need to agree with me about everything, but does need to be compassionate, a consensus-builder, and respect my rights and beliefs.
• who makes me proud of my country / my religion.

In both instances, I know who I think that person should be. It's just the getting everyone else to agree part that I have to do now. I've done all I can do on the presidential end for the time being and for now I'm concentrating on the priest part.

Here are a couple of pages from the profile we sent to perspective candidates that I think sum things up nicely about who we are and what we want.

Why did I post these? Well, because they are nice reminders for myself when I start to be grouchy about the task at hand. And frankly, because I could use your help with some happy thoughts. Some of you NonNearPagans might call them prayers. And anything you can toss my way would be most appreciated.

Many thanks,

Gert