December 23, 2021
Sarah and Marc's Thursday afternoon flight out of Milwaukee was scheduled to depart at 1:15. After checking their luggage and clearing security, they went down to the gate where their flight to Dallas would be leaving and then searched for some food. Upon returning to the gate, Sarah threw her earbuds in and listened to Marc's romance playlist, a set of songs that held special meaning for him as it related to her. Around 12:30, a group of teenage girls walked past the two of them before turning back around after realizing who they had seen, with their traveling companions alongside. Sarah engaged with them, answering some questions from the group and posing for a couple of selfies with individual girls. She was asked if Marc was her boyfriend, to which she responded, "Yes, he is", leading one of them to take a picture of the pair with his arm around her shoulders.
After their visitors had moved on to their own gates, Sarah and Marc curled up together until the boarding agent called for American Airlines Flight 1735 to begin boarding, then got in line to make their way toward the plane.
***
On the plane, Marc and Sarah were seated just behind one of the exit rows, with her on the window and him on the aisle. As the plane ascended, Sarah was holding Marc's hand as he had his eyes closed and was arched back in his seat to ride out the plane's take-off and leveling-out. As soon as the chime rang to indicate that the fasten seat belt sign had been turned off, Marc opened his eyes, at which time Sarah asked him about yesterday's meeting with Deacon Schmidt.
Sarah: You were gone a pretty long time yesterday. What did you and Marc discuss?
Marc: First, the reason why I was gone so long is because I got a message from Dani as I was leaving Marc and Ally's wanting an impromptu session in preparation for making public her relationship with her girlfriend. Now, about Marc and I. I asked him about the candidacy process and how I would enter it given my present state of affairs, that being without a church home or on the campus of one of the ELCA's universities currently. He said that I SHOULD be able to register to take at least the first course for the Practical Ministry certificate next term, which would put me under the auspices of Trinity Lutheran and therefore would make him the person I would deal with in getting past the synod's candidacy committee. We then delved into what I saw as the real purpose and use of my ordination, which I feel is the intersection of sports psychology and spiritual counseling, like what TLU's sports psychologist is looking to do with his position at the school, add the substance of faith and religious practice to that of mental health and mindfulness.
Sarah: That was definitely more than I thought you'd say. So you're really looking at going down this road, possibly chasing both "credentials" at the same time?
Marc: Yes. We looked at the certificate program and found that I can finish it in three semesters, taking PMC 150 this Spring, PMC 200 and 250 next Fall, and PMC 299 next Spring.
Sarah: Why the odd number for the fourth course?
Marc: Because the certificate is not meant to be used as a kickstart to an M.Div. (Master of Divinity), all four courses had to be numbered below 300, which is the threshold for ones which can be taken for graduate credit.
Sarah: Seems logical. Now about your sorry-I-don't-swing-that-way crush.
Marc: We got into where she was now, where Maddy was, their concerns, and how to handle the potential fireworks if they were to occur.
===========Flashback to Wednesday afternoon===========
Marc: First, I want to get a better picture of your families so I can assess where you might get some support.
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Under The Radar: A Redshirt Diary
FanfictionSarah Fuller was a goalkeeper on the Vanderbilt University women's soccer team, but is best-known for being the first woman to play in and score in a Power Five Football Bowl Subdivision game. Having finished her degree with two years of eligibility...
