When we married in August, 1999, we were determined that our spiritual journey TOGETHER would be a priority. Shields had been married for 32 years to Kay, a wonderful woman who was, for a period, on the TTUMC staff. She died from cancer. Martha had come to TTUMC, in 1997 to be coordinator of lay ministries. She was first married to an ordained Methodist clergyman whose need to claim his homosexual identity necessitated their divorce. After we married, Shields claimed he was drawn to Northern women who served on church staffs!
Shields had two adult children; Martha had no birth children, so she “adopted” Sarah and Eric with pleasure and has been a part of both their weddings.
Our spiritual journey’s have been different — and we feel it is important for couples to know “it is okay” that each comes to their faith in God at different times and in different ways — and each pursues their journey in different, unique ways. The most important thing, we believe, is to BE on an INTENTIONAL spiritual journey!
So — we will share a brief commentary on our individual journeys and in later blogs share things that have been meaningful to us in our growth as disciples of Jesus.
Shields says: I had a “drug” problem – I was drug to church, drug to committees. I was a “loyal church member,” counseling the youth, chairing numerous committees (now Teams!), attending church every Sunday, singing in the choir: all the things, I always say, that a “good church member” does.
AND THEN: My wife, Kay, died from breast cancer complications. I was really mad at God for allowing such a good person to die. I withdrew from life and hibernated. I realized some time later that my children could lose another parent, if I didn’t get things together. I went back to sing in the choir, got involved in churh activities, fell in love with Martha, and got married. I went on the Walk to Emmaus in 2001 and I GOT IT — I realized that it was not that I am such a smart fellow, but that God was continuingto love me and draw me back to him. It really opened my eyes and I continue my journey.
Martha: I’ve been a seeker all my life. I knew from early years that God and Jesus were central to my life and that the only way I was going to know God’s will for my life was to read the Bible/pray/discuss/learn/live. I knew very early that I needed to get in tune with my “God Center” (which I finally learned was the Holy Spirit). So my life has been filled with reading, and workshops and teaching and serving, focusing on my passion to live life as God wanted me to even as I passed through “troubled waters” several times!
So….you see, we have lots to talk about! Any questions? We’ll share more of our insights, learnings and challenges as we grow as “partners on a journey.”
Hope you join us for Maundy Thursday service, some part of the Good Friday experiences, the Men’s Prayer Breakfast on Saturday and Easter Services on Sunday (see TTUMC.net website for details)!
