My Accomplishments

         I recently petitioned to become an ordained minister in the church that I attend, The Center For Expanding Consciousness.  The reason I have done this is that I feel I have learned much in my life, in spite of and maybe even because of my disability, and I wanted to use that knowledge and experience in a productive way. So, I approached the minister of the church and requested to be accepted, as a student, to be prepared for ordination. My minister, Rev. Judith McClure didn't turn me down, but rather asked me to write a "resume'" of my accomplishments and what, if anything I could offer to the church as the result of them. I agonized over this for days until I finally came to the realization that I have learned much, even if it was not learned in school and I have no degrees. After a day or two of writing I came up with the following description of my accomplishments.

         She has graciously accepted me as a student of the ministry as the result, and I thought I would share it with my readership. This way, there will be no doubts in your minds as to my credentials, as well as my accomplishments. Some of what you will read will seem a bit fantastic, but that's ok. I don't claim to be anything more than what I am, even though some of my experiences are unusual, possibly even too fantastic to be believed. That's ok too. Suffice it to say that I have been as honest as I know how to be, and that those things, which may seem unbelievable or even way too fantastic to be true, may be just that! I can't prove some of it beyond saying that whatever it was that happened to me, be it real or imagined, it has made me what I am today, and what I am today is worthy of ordaination.

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        In grammar school, I went to parochial school from 5^th to 8^th grade. I took Bible study more seriously than just about anything in my life, as it I saw it as the key to my intense fears concerning God. I was always at the top of the class in Bible study. I discovered that I was able to memorize long passages, and could accurately quote chapter and verse by the end of the 5th grade. I also discovered my artistic talents