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Joining the Journey

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How are you each doing on this scholar’s journey? How are your hearts, minds, souls, and bodies?  How are your communities? Where are you heading?

While walking parts of this journey over the years myself and alongside others, I know how lonely and overwhelming it can be when it doesn’t seem as if your department or committee is truly hearing you, and your family and friends don’t understand why you’re even on this path. I also know the joy of breakthroughs as new ideas form and come to life through reading, conversations, writing, and research. And I’ve experienced the relief of finding others who get this work and the life of the academy.

As I step into directing the Emerging Scholars Network, I look forward to joining you along the journey. Bob Trube and others before him have walked with you well, providing ways of becoming attuned to God in your work, of connecting with companions along the way, of celebrating and sharing so much faithful and diverse thought, as well as providing resources to shape not only your mind but also your hearts and souls. Through all these means, ESN has sought to walk with scholars along the good way.

Thus says the LORD: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.- Jeremiah 6:16

On sabbatical this year, Kathy Tuan-MacLean (InterVarsity’s National Director of Faculty Ministry) and I walked part of the Portuguese Coastal route of the Camino de Santiago with three other women, all faculty members. Over eight days in conversations with these women and with God, I renewed the conviction that the practice of pilgrimage – a journey taken in light of a story – is a transformative way to look at the scholar’s journey. Pilgrimage invites us to think anew about this wonderful work of learning, teaching, and research as we de-center ourselves and the university to see God’s grander story.

During our time in Spain the words of the Pilgrim’s credo, written by Franciscan priest and author Fr. Murray Bodo, guided our steps and hearts.

I am not in control

I am not in a hurry

I walk in faith and hope

I greet everyone with peace

I bring back only what God gives
We’ve carried these words back to our campuses and ministries. I confess that I’ve fallen back into frenetic busyness many times since returning. Yet when I remember these statements, I slow down and listen. I recognize God’s presence with me and can continue the day from a place of abiding in Jesus instead of myself. Whether it’s this credo, a favorite verse, or a song, may you find reminders to stop and consider your walking stance along this journey. As we each slow down, even a little bit, may we hear the way to the ancient paths where our souls will know rest.

Over the coming months, I’ll be sharing more about walking the path of a scholar as a pilgrim. This will include the voices of other pilgrims (i.e. scholars) sharing their journeys. During this time, I’ll also be talking with many people to explore how ESN can continue to best serve graduate students, postdocs, and faculty. As with most pilgrimages, I have some idea of the goal, “scholars following Jesus together”, but don’t know what I will encounter along the way. I ask for your grace, patience, and help during this time of transition.

In the coming months, I’ll be sending out a survey and setting up focus groups to hear from some of our community. In the meantime, if you would like to share your experience with ESN over the years and what you’d like to see in the future, please contact me at jamie.noyd@intervarsity.org.