Call me stupid, but I was just as interested in the group dynamics and the types of folks that made up our group, as I was in the subject matter of our exploration and intentional learning in Mexico. You see, this was the first time I've hung out with people from any of our other Lutheran Seminaries, let alone 4 of them (different schools that is). And as you may have guessed elsewhere in my blog, I'm also interested in what kind of people become Lutheran pastors -- how I fit in, and how we all fit in with the understanding of discipleship that I'm working on.

Here's the group:

Can you find me in the picture???
I haven't decided yet if I'll give all of them the address of my blog. If anyone's offended I guess that will just be something useful to talk about, yes?

I came away with at least two new friends who I hope to stay in contact with and have many more fruitful conversations. Then there were several really nice people to just have along for the ride. And then there were a few that made me think alot to myself.
First of all I should say that the make-up of the group was very much like what I think I would find if I took a random sample of 15 people just from my school -- so the group was at least consistent with what I find at my own Lutheran seminary. But back to the folks who perplexed me...

I'm just going to shoot from the hip on this and not try to 'dress up' my impressions in elevated language. These individuals tended to be quite cynical about pretty much everything, frequently snickering, occasionally condescending, often openly mocking. In general just trying really hard to be cool and hip in their own way. I guess I'd have to say that my impression of them was that they were more saturated with the culture than Christ. I know that sounds harsh and judgmental, but being around them I got the aroma of a "Friends" or "Will & Grace" episode more than Christ. NOT that they came across this way all the time, I saw a kind and thoughtful side in each of them. It just seemed like being the one to come up with the clever remark or observation, or sharing the somewhat 'naughty' inside joke was the biggest deal to them.

Now, you need to know this is coming from someone who can be irreverent at times himself. I don't consider myself to be uptight, or 'holier than thou' in the least. I intend to be down-to-earth, approachable, and laid-back, and I think I come across that way to most people. So what was going on here?

I guess even when I push the edge of how 'one-of-the-guys' a pastor can be, I think I remain generally kind. These folks I'm talking about had a little bit of 'mean' in them or something, and I think it's going to have to go for them to be decent pastors.
And I guess even when I'm being silly, I think I still carry a sense of respect for others, a bit of reverence for who I represent, and a bit of something else... I kind of want to say 'innocence' but I'm not sure that's it, because that has a connotation of ignorance or being a novice, but what I'm trying to identify is intentional, even devotional.

Well, I may write about that again. Let me know if you have any insight.