The First Step

So, you’ve stumbled across the ramblings of an individual set out on a journey, and hoping to not make a mess of things in the process :)  This being the first “official” post of The Second Strait, perhaps an introduction is in order.

My name is Tim Gelletly.  My amazing wife, Jenn, and I have 3 kids, and we have lived in our northwest Detroit home since December 2001. I have an appreciation for sarcasm, conversations of faith, good scotch, company with friends, Nutella and I’ve even been called a beer snob. Over the years, some have flattered me by saying I’ve had a few of ideas worth discussing. Though, the idea that is actually worth discussing publicly has to do with a year long sabbatical.  So, at the behest of friends and family who have encouraged me to write about this adventure, I invite you to stay tuned for the next 12 months.

While I am one who enjoys writing, I haven’t really kept anything formal like an online blog - so this is my attempt at it (please consider all grammatical errors as intentional and meant for comedic relief).  Giving a title to this blog took me some time, but I’ve decided on “The Second Strait”.  For the non-sailors and non-navigators, a strait is a navigable waterway that connects two larger bodies of water. The name of my city, Detroit (de Troit), is French for “the strait”, because more than 300 years ago when the French settled this area it was called de Troit - as it connected two large bodies of water: Lake St Clair to the north and Lake Erie to the south. The Second Strait is a play on this concept that I hope to better articulate in this blog over time.  Being on a sabbatical for the next year, I hope to unpack two large “bodies of water” in my own life: 1) My Faith and 2) My Journey.  Since these two topics are connected together in my life, I figure that I am like a strait connecting them. Having lived in Detroit (the “first strait”) my entire life, the The Second Strait hopes to explain the connections I have with my city, as well as the pieces of My Faith and My Journey, to you the reader.

Allow me to add some context... 

MY JOURNEY

The “Journey” aspect of this sabbatical is an unfolding story of my life.  I do my best to look at each step I’ve taken and unpack it as best I can.  Thinking about the choices I make, the relationships I have, and the work that I do, and then considering why/how they were done and how I might grow from them.  Since 2010 I’ve been a volunteer at a non-profit community center in NW Detroit that offers practical services to the community.  In 2011, I wanted to become more involved and took on a few projects. By 2012, I was asked to join the board of directors.  I started thinking about ways to free up more time to further participate at the center, build rich experiences with my family, and dive further into my faith.  This thinking ultimately led to the concept of a sabbatical - a season of rest.  So here I am: Taking a year off from my career in sales and new business development from a leading educational technology company, maintaining my financial responsibilities, building rich experiences with my family, traveling/sightseeing and having something productive to show for it, all in one years time.  

MY FAITH

A little more history here... Shortly after having been baptized as an infant in the Lutheran church, my parents started to attend an evangelical pentecostal church - and here they raised my three siblings and I until we were on our own.  Growing up in this tradition I’ve benefitted from the study of scripture, outward acts of worship, tight family connections, and demonstrated love from those around me. 

Fast forward many years later: Having married in 2000, my wife and I made our way to a liturgical protestant church in 2002 - quite different from both of our evangelical upbringings. We enjoyed the different style of teaching and relationship that this community taught us. By mid-2008 I was frequently traveling for work, which resulted in regular hotels, airlines and renting a different car each week of my life.  It was in a rental car that I stumbled across satellite radio and began listening to The Catholic Channel. Now, lets be clear: the folks at the church I grew up in (for the most part) weren’t exactly Catholic friendly.  With all the reformations, traditions and decisions made over the last 500 years, the folks from my formative years felt pretty strong about Catholics being incorrect on some key issues of Christian faith. So, I kept this mostly quiet until I understood more about what I was hearing. What attracted me to this radio station was the way a few of the speakers taught about key concerns I had: 1) Mary, 2) the Eucharist, 3) Praying with Saints and 4) Purgatory. It was the speakers use of the bible, historical context and ancient traditions (which pre-dated the evangelical understanding I had) that helped me understand the depth of “why” and “what” these teachings are about.  As I listened, it occurred to me that everything I knew about the Catholic faith, was taught to me by non-Catholics.  Thus, I figured I’d better give this radio channel a decent chance at explaining the Catholic faith, and then continue digging deeper for more answers.

Now, fast forward to January 2012, after about 4 years of listening to apologetics, researching details and learning about the Catholic faith, I arrived at a place where I chose to become Catholic, but I would keep it quiet until about March. At the Easter Vigil in 2012 some good friends of mine were brought into the ancient church and invited me to attend this celebration with them.  My wife, kids and I were able to watch the entire ancient faith “acted” out in front of us. The emotional experience from this was incredible - and very moving for me.  After a month of thinking and praying, I begin to share my intentions of becoming Catholic with those around me - particularly this family that had just joined the church.  Going on in my mind was the nearly 4 years of unpacking the Catholic faith, through the filter/lens of a pentecostal/evangelical formation. The socially understood differences between these forms of Christian worship is quite huge - so it was no slight task to think this all through with as few hangups as possible from those around me.

Having made my decision public about becoming Catholic in March 2012, I visited countless churches, and eventually found my home at Christ the King parish in NW Detroit. I still remember my first Mass there on May 20, 2012, and all the people that made me feel welcome.  By the fall of 2012, I started to participate in the RCIA (Rite of Catholic Initiation for Christians) classes, and was able to dive into rich conversation and question with my priest and other parishioners. Now, after about 5 years of digging into this faith, I will be welcomed into the Catholic Church during this Saturday’s Easter Vigil Mass (March 30th!). So, for this next year, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you will see the unpacking of this [new] Catholic’s journey through the eyes of this [former] protestant evangelical. Perhaps, I might be like a “strait” here also - connecting two large groups of worshipers who sincerely want to share God’s love: Protestants and Catholics.

IN SUMMARY

Easter Sunday will have a new meaning for me, and the very next day is April 1st - the start of my sabbatical.  How awesome is this opportunity: to join the ancient faith, to begin a season of rest, to start a year long journey of my own choosing and to be surrounded with amazing people along the way.  

Over the next few months, there will be stories shared about the work being done at the community center, family excursions throughout the great state of Michigan, and even a pilgrimage trip to Rome, Italy.  So here you go, the light version for this next year is “Faith & Journey” to which I connect together - the Second Strait. Thanks for reading.