"SANE" & "NORMAL"
I know that at least some of you are going to have a hard time believing it -- at least about me -- but after three days of assessment at the Center for Ministry in Oakland, the counselor there has declared BOTH Cheryl and me "sane" and "normal."

Our counselor was John Landgraf (who is not only a psychologist, seminary professor, former seminary president, and pastor -- but also a musician). We were a bit apprehensive about the whole thing to begin with but John quickly cut through all the psychobabel and put us at ease. We did a lot work on personality preferences and envisioning the future.

The whole thing was required (and paid for) by the Covenant Department of World Mission. They want to make sure that the people they are sending out can handle the unique pressures of living and working in a cross-cultural context.

The assessment track we were on was a modified version of their vocational track. I wish that all pastors and spouses could have the opportunity to go through a similar mid-career evaluation -- even those who are totally happy with what they're doing and where they're going. Yes, this stuff is helpful if you're in a crisis but it was amazingly affirming and insightful -- even for those of us who are secure about our call to ministry and are not in crisis.