I’ve Been Summoned

You know how you can feel how you may be just one person, but you have a bunch of different identities? For me, these would include:

• In my current family, the mother who tries to stay up with current playlists
• In the neighborhood, the woman with that big black dog
• At my current school, the lady who is in the classroom the other lady used to be in
• In my family of origin, the little sister
• In my tennis group, the player who plays matches for a while and then disappears
• At home on any given evening, the one who can rattle on about her day

You get the idea. Anyway, although I started this blog originally with “pastor’s wife” in the title, the fact is that I can go long stretches— depending what else is claiming my attention — not particularly conscious that I am a clergy spouse. The other day, though, something came in the mail that left no question who I was to some really important people across the pond — and not our little pond, either.

Who, me? Invited to be part of “a significant moment in the history of our extraordinary global family”? Wow, I mean there’s mail and then there’s mail. On the evening I saw this, I immediately decided that paper grading would have to wait until i could get accustomed to my apparent considerable stature in the eyes of the Anglican Communion. My husband had hinted that this day would come, because the Lambeth Conference is a “dicennial” kind of thing; since he’s been bishop of New Hampshire for about six years, our time had arrived to step up and do our duty, joining with other bishops and spouses from everywhere else. 

This news could even provide a kind of new fortification for the spirit that could carry me right through any upcoming challenging moments with students, or anyone else for that matter. The distinguished person who sent the letter has one of the longer titles you’ve ever heard. He is “The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby- Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of All England and Metropolitan.” Here he is, demonstrating a nice, easy gait probably on a London street.

Getting to meet him will be special, for sure. And, if my husband is correct, I also may have a chance to curtsey (wait, does that happen still?) to this person, who is never without just the right hat. Hang on Queen Elizabeth, I’m a comin’ over soon!

Now, through the rest of this winter that has so far been characterized by very messy footing outside….I’m going to be the mother asking about that cool new song/ dog walker/ high school teacher / erratic tennis player/ little sister/ one who rattles on about her day PLUS the woman who is headed to the 2020 Lambeth Conference. Hey, maybe it’ll be a kind of vacation.