There is a time for crying!

5/4/2022

The other day I tearfully processed grief or despair in my life. At least, that is the only reason I could think of why I was crying. Yes, Mikey, men do cry, and it is ok. It was an incredible cleansing for me to be able to shed tears in anguish. Solomon said there is a time to weep and laugh, notice how they are opposites. Ironically, after my emotional process, I realized something significant.
It has been a rough three (3) years. Approximately three years ago, I left the VA system as a Chaplain, doing well actually-financially speaking, just graduating with a second Masters's degree. I know, for some of you that may not mean anything. It does to me, reflecting my following God's purpose for my life. By the way, I am so grateful for a wonderful, supportive wife.
I can't imagine what life would be without her. She has found a purpose here in Clarksville, Tennessee, as a private school teacher of Spanish. It was a miracle how she got the job. She went in for an interview, and they hired her right away. She does not teach one grade, but all students, Pre-K to 6th grade (adding the 7th grade next year). Anyway, Maribel is a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother.
Since I retired from the Army in 2013, we have moved four times to land here in Clarksville. We moved from NC to minister for three years in Medford, Oregon, as Pastors. We moved to Dallas, and I worked at the VA Hospital in Dallas for three years, during which I completed a MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I knew there was something else and I had more to offer in life. So I prayerfully applied to a few Ph.D. programs. I landed at Trevecca Nazarene University, of which I am about halfway to completion. I have to complete an Internship in counseling and a dissertation.
So we moved from Dallas to Nashville, landing in an apartment. We went from a lovely large brick home to an apartment. (Did I say I have a wonderful wife)! We lived in Nashville for almost a year before purchasing the house we live in now. I reflect on the people I have met and what has transpired, the classes, discussions, papers, the professors' feedback, and the two years of counseling I have conducted. The unexpected loss of a family member. I reflect on how I am in this change cycle every three years, and to top it off, I had some significant things happen that impacted my experience in the counseling field. It is nothing terrible, just a bump in the road on this journey towards licensure.
I just realized I am making significant changes (at the three-year mark) in my journey in life and towards licensure. The changes are positive and sound and will result in getting licensed and a job in academia. However, we are beginning to make another change, perhaps a change in how Maribel and I will live out our faith journey or our ministry to others. I am not sure, but I know it has to come with loving and care towards the pastoral couple we have met and joined their house church. They are considered friends who we met 32 years ago. So, I think my tears were from exhaustion and grief, and the body/brain is telling me it is expecting change (because it has experienced it every three years). There is a time for everything.

1 Comment

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Author

Dan is in a second career, that of Counselor, but he is a pastor at heart. He desires to present the Word of God in its context and then challenge the reader in its application to our lives. It is the Word of God that brings revival to our souls. The psalmist writes, "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock, and my Redeemer.

Dan and Maribel Kinjorski

Dan and Maribel are Bible Teachers. They love to expound on the Word of God. Maribel has been involved in Church since an early age. A graduate of the University of San German, Puerto Rico, in Business Administration and Economy. Dan is a graduate of East Coast Bible College (now shuttered) and the Pentecostal Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity (1999) , Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (2019), and now working on a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology: Counseling Education and Supervision.
Maribel Pastored Lilly of the Valley, Church of God, a Hispanic Community in Medford, Oregon. Dan Pastored, at the same time, Family Life Church, Medford, Oregon. They both were each other's assistant in their perspective communities. Dan and Maribel were able to bring together an English speaking, Spanish speaking, and a Deaf (non-hearing) community as "one" in community.
While serving in the military, Dan spent his last 13 years as an Army Chaplain, previously enlisted for seven years as a Communication Specialist. As an Army Chaplain, Dan often pastored Chapel Services ranging from the Gospel Service, General Protestant Service, to an Assembly of God Samoan Chapel Service at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Meanwhile, Maribel supported her husband and often found herself assisting in the Family Readiness Groups when Dan deployed to Iraq or the Middle East (Kuwait) and also working with the Protestant Women of the Chapel. Dan and Maribel are proud parents of David (and Megan) with Olive (2nd grand); Michelle (and Street Wise Hercules) with Lilly (1st grand) and soon to be MJ, (3rd grand).