Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 73425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 367(@200wpm)___ 294(@250wpm)___ 245(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 367(@200wpm)___ 294(@250wpm)___ 245(@300wpm)
Mira nods but then speaks again.
“But what you guys have accomplished is truly inspiring because the church is thriving in the heart of New York City. I’ve always heard people saying, if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere, and I think it’s true. If you can survive in this urban jungle called Manhattan, you can survive anywhere. Kudos.”
We’ve finished our meal by this point and Jordan stands up to get everyone’s dishes.
“Thanks sweetheart,” he growls. “You’re real kind.”
She smiles at him.
“No, you’re the ones who are too kind,” she says as she hands over her plate. “Cooking for me and also starting up a church to tend to the needy? I should be thanking you.”
We chuckle, but then turn the conversation on its head.
“What about you, Mira?” Jordan asks while handing her a refilled glass of water. “Why did you move all the way here from Louisville?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” she shrugs. “I graduated from high school, and it was time for me to choose a college. My mother was recommending a bunch of places closer to home, and I was really considering just staying in Kentucky, but I saw a brochure for the New School at a college fair. The girl I talked to went on and on about how great her experience was, and how much fun I’d have in the city. I guess you could say that I was sold on the idea of the city as a school,” she adds with a sly grin.
It must have been one hell of an elevator pitch to convince Mira to come all the way here from Kentucky, especially if she’d never planned to leave home in the first place. New York is definitely a tempting city to live in.
“You’re brave,” I remark.
She shrugs.
“I’ve always been a Kentucky girl, and never left the small town I was raised in. Moving to the city sounded like the perfect way to actually strike out on my own and forge a separate identity for myself. My Aunt Angie helped me send in my application because I was worried my mom was going to talk me out of going. New York isn’t cheap, and my family has never had much money.”
She looks down into her glass, holding it with both hands.
“Anyway, when I got in with a full-ride, my mom couldn’t really say no. The only argument she had had for making me apply local was so that I could save on rent and all that stuff. Plus, my aunt also supported the whole thing, so here I am. I still feel a bit like a fish our of water, but it’s been getting better. I think I’m finding my way. And meeting you two was pretty nice.”
I nod because when I first got to the city, I was a mess. I find calm and serenity in order, and New York is everything but. It’s a chaotic marketplace with everyone from The Donald to Lady Gaga making an appearance at Starbucks. But over time, I learned to be more adaptable and to work with what I was given, and with some egging on by Jordan, I was able to get through that first road block. It’s why we’re so close. We’ve gone through a lot together, and experiences like that can really inform a friendship.
“Did you guys ever think that this is the life you’d be leading? I mean, I’m guessing you didn’t always want to be pastors.”
“That’s true,” Jordan answers. “I want through a lot of different phases career-wise, but I don’t regret anything. Life has a way of taking you places. I mean, having this young congregation is absolutely amazing. It’s to be expected because we skew a lot more liberal than the average church.”
Mira thinks for a minute.
“Yes, but what about the people always throwing judgment at you for choosing religious life? God knows, you guys would be amazing CEOs in the finance world.”
Mira is asking a lot of interesting questions. I don’t think she’s trying to challenge us on anything because it feels like it’s coming from a genuine place.
I laugh.
“No sweetheart, I think we always wanted to be pastors, although we appreciate the sentiment.”
She grins sassily.
“Well, I love how you’re breaking with tradition. That’s courageous.”
I think for a moment because there was a time when I wasn’t sure conviction was enough. It takes sweat; money; and a lot of hard work to make new enterprises succeed. I look to Jordan and nod.
“The traditional path does tend to be easier because there are a lot of well-beaten paths already established for people to follow,” my buddy concedes. “But just because we’re preaching in a new way doesn’t mean we totally forsake everything the old church has to offer. There are aspects that we’ve transferred to our practice that work great. And a lot of people misunderstand too. For example, a lot of people think because we’re accepting of all forms of love that we don’t believe in family values, but that’s far from the truth. We feel like fidelity and loyalty to your partner are important of course. It’s just different because you might have multiple partners. But why can’t you honor multiple partners at once?”