I must admit that it has been a very difficult week; trying to manage my time, keeping up with schoolwork, work and church. It's not unusual for me to have to juggle many different tasks at once, but for some reason this week it seemed like an impossible feat. The more I tried, the more obstacles I encountered. Just when I thought I had successfully overcome one, another obstacle came into my path. The reading addressed two issues that helped me tremendously. Willimon talked about preacher as pastor and Lillian Daniels in the chapter “Casting Out Demons” touched a lot on the same topic. When I found myself entrenched in work; swimming in what I thought was an endless ocean, I found some consolation in Willimon's "Pastor as Character." Even though I am not a pastor, I felt his words spoke to me and my situation. The words “Who is weak….and I am not weak? Who gets tripped up and I run out?” (page 284) echoed in my mind. In my years as a teacher, unfortunately, I have found myself many times sitting in the principal's office counting. The other day I simply commented to my mother, with great enthusiasm, "Mom, you should be proud of me, I didn't have to go to the principal's office this year!" Well, to my dismay, that statement was premature. The moment I thought I could finally emerge from the water; in which I found myself drowning... the principal greets me in the hall. “SM. Townsend, did you do well?'” He asked with a smile. I responded with a confident, resounding, “Yes, sir, of course.” Well, unfortunately he received a call from a parent. My head drooped and immediately the thoughts crossed my mind. I thought "What have I done?" Because honestly I could... halfway through the paper... insert the collar part too. I hate wearing the collar. I'm still adjusting to wearing it, considering I was ordained in December, so I'm sure my feelings will change. Well, at least I'm optimistic that they will way is magical. When you wear it you magically transform. He was looking for a transformation into someone who could assert himself and be taken seriously. He later realized that the collar does not transform I also believe that my spiritual path will lead me to the pastorate and I also realize that it is not the collar or an external symbol that makes it a reality, but it is the interaction with people. “They are the ones who can turn me into a shepherd.” (page105)