Abstract

Gosden, Dale Upon sharing the news with my lifelong friend that I was joining the seminary to become a Lutheran pastor, his response was as honest as it was poorly timed. 'It's going to be hard for you to find a girl who wants to marry you now.' This, of course, had been a significant reason behind my hesitation to become a minister in the first place, so at least I felt he understood my fears, even if I didn't appreciate him articulating them. My response was spoken partially in faith and partially out of the need to convince myself with some positive self-talk: 'I guess I'm just trusting that God is going to have to find me a pretty special girl'.