the jolly cynic

16th February 2012

Post with 1 note

application essay questions, pt 1

1. The Intern/Volunteer Programs who use this application form share a commitment to vocational discernment in the context of faith-based community living and social service. How does your personal journey reflect or relate to this shared mission of our programs? (250 WORDS)

I was recently on a date (an odd way to begin this essay, I know.) and asked, rather abruptly, if I was, “super religious.” Pedant that I am, I could only respond that it depended on how one defined “religious.” At that moment I was too caught up in my own startled thoughts to properly address the question. How did I go from atheist to evoking this question in under two years?

To wrap up my spiritual journey in 250 words is madness, so I’ll focus on this year at St. Hilda’s House. I entered a hesitant theist, still bearing the theological jumpiness of a queer teenager spiritually abused by almost every Christian with whom ze’d had contact. All I knew was that my life was meant for service and justice, that part of me called out to something I’d heard called “God,” and this had brought me to New Haven. During the past six months I’ve grown exponentially. The discovery of centering prayer, the total responsibility of intentional community, and the discipline of morning prayer (the mention of which had prompted my date’s sudden question) have opened my eyes to God.

Still, theological questions swim in my mind, and I hope they always will. My temporary answer is the one I eventually gave my date - my religion is service and it is God who allows me to perform that service, day after day, in the face of a sometimes cruelly apathetic world. So, yes, I am “super religious.”

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*grumble* it was waaaay better at 280 words, before i had to cut out all of the things that made the sentences sound nice.

Tagged: i only have to write one more!