Prior to the flourishing of holistic ministry within the homeschool group, my partner Sandy and I were in search of a Presbyterian church in our vicinity. We learned about a potential new local church that was meeting in a storefront space. Upon our visit, I experienced a sense of discomfort, which led us to explore other congregations. Several months later, we discovered that the Presbyterian Church was appointing a new pastor. I can attest that my engagement with the Psalms began to yield significant spiritual benefits. The new pastor delivered sermons with such genuine compassion and intellectual fervor that I found myself questioning his denominational affiliation. He was of Italian descent and had graduated from a local seminary located in a neighboring town. I emphasize his Italian heritage as it resonated with my developing understanding of theological principles. To me, he represented a spiritual mentor who would adeptly navigate challenges and staunchly advocate for our community.

During my thirties, I maintained a keen interest in observing individuals attentively. I held a deep appreciation for certain admirable qualities exhibited by my current pastor, who served as a paternal figure in my life. He engaged regularly with each member of the congregation, often taking the time to meet with me in a restaurant setting. During these meetings, he would encourage me to ask questions and actively listen, creating a dialogue that could last for an hour without interruption. Each encounter left me imbued with profound joy, and I found myself invigorated as I passionately discussed sacred scripture. His influence was instrumental in empowering me, resulting in a significant transformation in my life during that period.

It remains uncertain whether his behavior was consistent with others whom I did not know. However, similar to how divine providence had blessed us with a home-school group, it was through this providence that my devoted pastor entered my life, guiding me toward a higher level of aesthetic experience. While I rarely considered other pastors to possess greater intelligence than myself, I found that he consistently exhibited a level of intellect that surpassed my own.