I have been out of seminary for one full year now and out of the traditional job market for a good while longer.I'm using more general terms because waxing descriptive in this instance might result in too much of a shock for my psyche to bear... the realization of time passed too much to digest in one sitting.
It took three years to complete the Master of Divinity program. In the meantime and during the process,I have been busy trying to make it happen building an organization in an attempt to bridge theology with popular culture. My priority has been to do all I could to make God's creative vision for my life, and others affected, unfold and manifest as soon and smoothly as possible.
If you have discovered anything about visions,then you know that not everyone gets the one that you "got". Even if they did, it may still not have contained the exact imagery that yours did. Consequently, you may be the only one that has caught it at the degree and level of intensity that you have,which often accounts for the various delays and lapses encountered along the way between point of initial inspiration and point of actual manifestation.
Presto! Presto! Presto! No. That trifold command did not quite do the trick in my case. Not that I've actually used it,since I rely heavily on prayer and positive affirmation. Oh,believe me I have come pretty close to using presto as well as Abracadabra, (which incidentally was used in ancient healing rites). My patience has worn more than thin many more times than I'd like to admit. This process has turned out to be quite a bit more involved than anything a quick magical incantation designed to yield instant results could ever get me through. Nothing about this journey has been instantaneous. I've wanted to pack up and go home to mom quite a few times, just chew the fat and take life easy.
I have met some really fabulous people-super stars, movers and shakers, in shorter periods of time than I had expected. Credit Kairos for that.But everything else has been a gradual process,real gradual...seeming almost deliberately so. If I have not learned anything on life's journey so far, I have learned that God's concept of time is not the same as mine. Put more succinctly, and more commonly known as the adage:"God's time is not our time."
In addition to grappling with the chronos versus kairos challenge, in my pursuit of the unchartered,I may have in some circles "innovated" myself right out of the market. Not the pop culture market. I think there is still room for me there. And I sense that things are opening up. I'm referring to the religious market. There are still those that think my interests are a bit eccentric to say the least. Not all my colleagues,but some.Yes. There are still conservative thinkers in my field who believe that there is no place for pop culture in religious life. My belief that "love and music are healing forces of the world" and that the linear and the creative could be combined in this pursuit,well...they probably view it as anathema at most and weird at best.
But as an internet radio host,music lover,artist and minister,I firmly believe this.So,this blog is my attempt to balance things out for that population,while making myself contract worthy (euphemism for employable). If that is at all possible for me. Well,at least until such time as I get picked up by the record company,the recording artist,the magazine editor,the book publisher,pop-TV show,etc. I have been pioneering a new field for chaplaincy,my friends..."Pop Chaplaincy". Just kidding. Smile. Not really...kidding,that is... However,Reverend Run may have beaten me to the punch on that one.
I even revised my blogger profile after four (4) long years of being "out there" in pop land to reflect the more stodgy and "high brow" aspects of my background.In other words,the pendulum has swung towards the conformist section in me. I've been called "polished unconventional" during my law practicing days. So,that should be an indication of how difficult it might be for me to now, or anytime for that matter, swing towards conventional.
In addition,I've spent so much time trying to build a bridge,an organization, a network, a concept,a dream,a vision that I believe was divinely inspired,God given that I completely left myself and more mundane needs out of the equation. Sacrifice of self for the higher good is the minister's credo if not their frequent stock in trade. And, if it isn't, then well maybe it just ought to be for the reasons I trust will become clearer to you and me in the coming days.Let's just say that right now I am engaged in the process of getting myself "out of the way" by putting myself in fuller view. If that makes any sense.
Right now,it is a little murky. I may never know why it has taken so long to claim myself... I have my theories,but they are just that and will remain unwritten for now.
Yes.Today has been the day for one of my most "suitable for practical application" epiphanies. One which comes in quite handy and is very timely in this phase of "discernment" as I build my Spirituality and the Arts ministry through the Creativessel Program at the Jan Hus Church currently with the "Lifting the Spirit" workshops.
One such revelation which hit me like a ton of bricks today and which is certainly useful in this period of searching for gainful preaching,teaching and consulting gigs is this. I have learned that I am currently not a "google-able" name for search purposes. Well,that is if you put in my name. The one I was born with,Cynthia D. Wilson. You get some Cynthia Wilsons. But you don't get me. This has occured to me before,but it did not seem to matter as much during that time. But today,I finally took the time to actually think about this situation. Could this be the reason? Hmmm...What are the possible strategies for resolution? Maybe one of my secret internet friends will help out on this one.
One of the Cynthia's is ironically the same age as me. Unfortunately,she was killed in the 9/11 disaster.God rest her soul and I send out loving thoughts and prayers to her family.Then you get others who've been engaged in entirely different careers than I.Then some have different middle initials. And,so on and so forth.
The bottom line is that I am an accomplished woman by most standards and you can not locate me on the internet by my name.You can,however locate me by googling other entities, a non-profit corporation I founded three(3) years ago,Heavier Octaves(it has an associated radio broadcast) and my arts and design ministry, Creativessel. You can also google my nick name Revcoolc,which takes you on a virtual odyssey of broadcast links. Some are out dated.Yes. I'm all over cyberspace identified under different names. Every name but my own. By today's pop culture standards that may be a no-no. I could counter with "Well, as long as I am in the Lamb's Book of Life that's all that should matter anyway". But are you there? One can never be too sure. Hold that thought. There's a sermon there. I promise.
Most people, that is my professional and theological peers,know me as Cynthia D. Wilson. Even though they are fully aware of what they may percieve as my valiant, albeit "low key" efforts, to bridge the gap between pop culture and theology through the creation and use of the above-referenced entities. In my efforts to do so, over the past four(4) years (it all started in 2003), I've been underground and occasionally "deep cover" with no outward attempts made to be preachy or convert souls during my online blogging and inspirational postings on message boards around the internet.
I've mixed and mingled with the internet masses and some formidable geeks,especially music fans. Many becoming long time cyberspace friends I've not actually met in person but who I recognize on various boards they frequent by flashing avatars or buddy icons. I now relate to them regularly in various online communities in the pursuit and understanding of pop mania and its relationship to a caring,neighborly and ethical society. Some I've encouraged,inspired or even lifted up in prayer. I've done a good amount of trading in music and concert tickets,posted reviews,recorded concert videos,etc. I've made a fair amount of cyber peace as well.
The ride has been a whole lot of fun and just as enlightening. But one thing for sure,and its part of the internet culture,is that people know other people by their "sign in", "user names", or aliases, which can sometimes be numerous. Sometimes they augment true identities. Sometimes they shield them. Sometimes they can buy much needed time to sort things out.
I started to reflect deeply about this today and figured that it was about time that I clarified my online identity. After all...
It's about time the world was officially enlightened about the origins of the remarkable sources of inspiration from pop culture, that have propelled me on during this awesome leg of life's journey with my belief in Christ's teachings still in tow.
This is headquarters.Welcome to my world. Population one...two,three and hopefully growing.
Peace,
Cynthia
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