like a BB in a boxcar.....

[hoosiermama]

Yep.... it is a confounding situation how involved in ministry they can be and still hold their heads up high. I can't help but feel there is a bigger lesson in this for those of us who are left to watch them.... but I'll be danged if I've been able to see what that might be yet. I know in my heart that God has a plan for me and that it is for the good.... so whatever there is to endure in the present.... I try to keep that at the forefront of my mind and it helps me to cope with the difficult times.

My H is a hospital chaplain and in the process of becoming an episcopal priest (recently he converted from Catholicism in order to pursue priesthood). Three months ago he changed hospitals for a better job--little did I know how much it would disrupt MY life! While getting a tour of his new place, he met an old flame from his seminary days. She's a NICU nurse, and over 20 years ago he left his Catholic seminary when he fell in love with her. To make a long story short, this chance meeting led to a few in-depth conversations. Eventually they talked about further "exploring their feelings" for each other (we all know what that means), pledging to do so from a base of "honesty and healthiness" and perhaps planning to spend the rest of their lives together. Two days after that conversation, H dropped the bomb on me--ILYBINILWY, I need space, I'm not happy, I want a separation. Denied having an affair, still denies having an affair--says she refused to have an affair with him because she "doesn't do that." He's sent her several Druid prayers; she practices Wicca. Since he moved out, it's become a physical affair, altho he still claims nothing is going on. I guess once he moved out she no longer considers us married or something.

He's euphoric and giddy in love, and that's all that really matters to him right now.

So, since the beginning of March, H has changed jobs, changed denominations, started an affair, left his family. He claims he feels wonderful and free having thrown off the constraints of his old job, his old church and his old marriage and is "living into his honesty" (wth does that mean?) He has described all these changes as "taking off an old coat that no longer fits."
I am finding a bit of ironic humor in the situation--my H, hospital chaplain, priest wanna-be, leaves his family for a Wiccan woman because he believe it's their destiny finally to be together.

Hope I didn't hijack your thread; just thought I'd respond to the "ministry with MLC" issue.