The fog is outside, so why wouldn’t the seeker be an outsider?

As the title of my blog should imply, I am exploring my place in God’s kingdom. I’m not always good at that exploration, or at doing God’s will even when I discern it, but that’s another story...

As part of my exploration, last night I attended the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) class hosted by the base chapel. It’s the class intended to introduce newcomer adults to the Roman Catholic Church (RCC), and generally the yearlong course of study is a prerequisite for baptism or reception into the RCC. I was in a particularly down place, so I thought I’d try something new to give my spiritual life a little shake.

Anyway, I arrived about a half-hour early. Normally, I would be early anyway, but I was a couple minutes late—for the time I’d seen advertised. I waited in the classroom, looking at the handwritten poster of church history that stretched halfway around the room. After about ten minutes, the priest entered the room and welcomed me. I filled out a two-page application (the second page ended up being blank save for one check box, since I’ve never been married and have no kids), and he and I sat at the middle of opposite sides of the classroom’s long table.

One by one, other students arrived and took their seats, beginning with the ends of the table. The class eventually began.

It’s interesting to explore the differences in how denominations view specific events in church history. For example, the RCC has a somewhat different view of the European Reformation than do many of the Protestant churches. Additionally, the 1054 split with the Eastern church was scarcely mentioned during the class—and not at all by the priest. These differences still plague ecumenical relations, and they likely will be factors in my ministry, should it ever get off the ground.

About a half-hour into the class, I came to the sudden realization that every seat at the table was filled—except for the seat to either side of me. I’m pretty sure I’d showered that morning, so what was up?

Was it my uniform? Doubtful, since most of the class was in uniform. I’m an officer, but the room was a mix of ranks.

Was it being the new guy in the room? Again, doubtful. I was one of two newcomers to the group, and the seats next to me were the only empty ones.

Whatever it was, it became a reminder for me that the RCC probably would never be quite the home for me that my own church has become. My ministry is outside the great hall of many rooms, so why wouldn’t I be an outsider? Maybe that was the point of the exercise...