“Answering the Call” Josh Reeves speaks with Bridget McCann
[00:00:01] Hey Bridget. Hi Josh. It's really good to see you behind a microphone today
[00:00:06] How much longer are you in Colorado, Colorado resident?
[00:00:11] Eight days. Eight days. So Reverend Bridget McCann who I'm speaking with today has had the shortest official tenure
[00:00:21] of a Mile Hi minister
[00:00:23] ever, I think three months
[00:00:24] You joined us as a special focus minister. We knew that you were on to
[00:00:30] leadership within our Greater Organization Centers for Spiritual Living and a very smart church in Portland, Oregon
[00:00:39] Signed you to a letter of call to be there senior minister
[00:00:43] They did which I'm very excited about and I start there early June
[00:00:49] Yeah
[00:00:50] I just didn't think it would be this quick that I would be in and out of Mile High
[00:00:56] But it happened faster than I think any of us anticipated. Yeah, and we all knew it was coming and yet
[00:01:02] You know your ministerial journey so far
[00:01:05] I don't think we would say that this has happened super fast that deep development of yes and you know to back up your
[00:01:12] Your story as I know it and you can clarify it for me as you were a
[00:01:17] Very successful attorney. You got involved in some of the spirituality stuff
[00:01:22] you know, I'd like to hear how that happened and eventually, you know that turned into a call to
[00:01:29] Become a minister and I'd love to hear a little bit about how all that happened
[00:01:36] So do you mean how as an attorney I became involved
[00:01:43] In general on the spiritual path is that?
[00:01:47] Well, I think that you know ministers a funny word isn't it what does it really mean but at some point I think it means that we've embodied
[00:01:56] service
[00:01:58] Towards the uplifting of people's hearts and souls more than anything else
[00:02:02] And I that's what I'm interested in is that that journey that's got you to where you are today
[00:02:07] Owning or being willing to be seen as
[00:02:10] minister as a
[00:02:12] Inspire of hearts
[00:02:15] Okay, so
[00:02:18] Yes, I was working as an attorney with my own practice and working mostly with immigrants and refugees which was very
[00:02:27] fulfilling very heart-based work it allowed me to
[00:02:32] Use my skills and intellect as an attorney and my court skills
[00:02:38] on behalf of
[00:02:40] People who really needed it to transform their lives, but it was also a type of legal work that
[00:02:47] Allowed me to bring that heart to my work
[00:02:50] and I was doing that for several years and was quite happy with that and
[00:02:57] At the same time I had been involved in
[00:03:01] Spiritual practices here at Maahai Church for many years and had developed a meditation and prayer practice
[00:03:08] and
[00:03:10] at some point I
[00:03:13] Just kind of started feeling like maybe there was something different for me a different way to serve or I
[00:03:20] Didn't know exactly what it would be
[00:03:22] and it came to me that
[00:03:25] Well, this is how I put it in my own heart and mine is I didn't want to die without dancing my dance or
[00:03:33] Sometimes you hear
[00:03:36] People say they you know don't die with your song still in you and so for a long time
[00:03:44] My meditation and prayer work was around discovering what that is
[00:03:49] I guess my life's purpose my life's calling it just kept feeling like yeah, I'm doing something really great now
[00:03:56] But there's something else and so after quite a while of
[00:04:01] Being open to hearing what that was to be for me
[00:04:08] I
[00:04:09] during a meditation I received a call to ministry and I
[00:04:16] Immediately started to cry because I
[00:04:21] Knew it was the answer to my prayer and at the same time. I didn't want to do it
[00:04:28] I I've had too much schooling already in my life was my thought
[00:04:34] But I cried for a few days because
[00:04:39] Yeah, I knew it was I knew it was a calling and I knew it was the answer to my prayer and
[00:04:44] I knew it was genuine so
[00:04:48] After some time and some consulting with trusted spiritual advisors and mentors I
[00:04:56] Surrendered to it and that was the start of the surrendering and here I am about five years later
[00:05:03] Six years later going to Portland to be their minister, which I'm absolutely thrilled about
[00:05:08] Yeah, we're thrilled for you as well. Although we wish we could keep you closer by but I love that
[00:05:15] idea of dancing the dance and
[00:05:18] You know hearing about those tears, you know for me always remember a discussion with with
[00:05:23] Dr. Roger, you know guests speaking here and him sharing with me his you know vision for a
[00:05:29] Lead minister at mile high that wasn't him and all of this stuff
[00:05:32] And I remember I went to my hotel room. It was a different type of calling, you know and and wept
[00:05:38] And I just cried and it was it didn't have anything to do with mile
[00:05:41] Hi or moving to Colorado
[00:05:42] But the message for me and that is that everything that was before was done
[00:05:47] You know the ministry that I was getting to do in Seal Beach was complete
[00:05:51] Because there was this call to immense growth
[00:05:54] But it was sad for me because it meant letting go of what was and so you know
[00:06:00] I'm interested in those tears a little bit if they had to do of letting go of what was or of
[00:06:05] You know the excitement or even the realization of the the path ahead of you to dance this dance
[00:06:13] The tears at first were
[00:06:17] tears of resistance and just tears of I
[00:06:23] Don't have the time the money the energy to do this and
[00:06:27] And I already have so much formal education. I was like seriously the last thing I need is another degree
[00:06:35] so
[00:06:37] And it was just so unexpected. I mean I had never thought about being a minister
[00:06:44] My only prayer had been
[00:06:47] to discover what that dance is and
[00:06:51] So the the tears were part. That's gonna be too hard. I'm not doing that and
[00:06:57] part shock
[00:06:59] and then
[00:07:02] and resistance and
[00:07:06] Thinking it would be too difficult
[00:07:08] So I did cry for a few days but in those intervening months before I surrendered to it
[00:07:16] and
[00:07:17] And I was sitting with it and contemplating
[00:07:20] You know, am I gonna do this? Am I gonna say yes?
[00:07:27] Reverend Carol Wilkie I
[00:07:29] Heard her speak. I think out of Wednesday evening
[00:07:34] And I honestly don't remember what the message was that night
[00:07:39] except for one line and she said, you know, it's a calling if it makes you cry
[00:07:45] So then I started crying again cuz I'm like, oh darn it. I think she's right
[00:07:51] So that really struck me and stayed with me
[00:07:56] and then
[00:07:59] After sitting with this for a few months and
[00:08:04] Being a meditation again. I
[00:08:07] Had decided well in part of that intervening months was also
[00:08:12] The ego part of me or the brain part of me trying to tell myself that it wasn't a real calling because I kept asking myself
[00:08:20] Is this a real calling or just a hair-brained idea bullshit? Yeah, well my question to
[00:08:26] Question to myself was is this really a calling or just some hair-brained idea?
[00:08:32] But my heart knew it wasn't just some hair-brained idea
[00:08:36] So I cried again when I surrendered but that time it was tears of release and surrender
[00:08:42] enjoy
[00:08:43] Yeah, Frederick Bickner talks about you know if you want to
[00:08:47] Listen to where God is speaking to you in your life watch out for your unexpected tears
[00:08:51] You know watching a movie or receiving a calling and so yeah, you know
[00:08:57] I think there is something powerful about how the wordless can speak to us in prayers
[00:09:03] Interiors and how sometimes they even tell our future there their fortune tellers in a way too
[00:09:11] You haven't you're a new minister
[00:09:14] But you know this this call to port that although it seems like it's come together really easy is also a
[00:09:20] culmination of kind of
[00:09:22] You know figuring things out and finding your way you know with the license and I'm just interested
[00:09:27] You know what feels different if anything at all now that it's been aligned to the spiritual community because certainly you're both
[00:09:35] demonstrations for one another
[00:09:40] I guess I'm gonna ask you to restate that
[00:09:47] Please judge coming out
[00:09:49] No, I'm not quite understanding what you're going so moving from
[00:09:54] You know getting that license as a minister and passing the panels and passing the testing to this point of
[00:10:01] Saying yes to a work in a geographic location. You know
[00:10:07] You know it's both
[00:10:08] There's nothing about it for me
[00:10:10] You know knowing your path a little bit that it feels like a beginning
[00:10:13] You know it's the end of part of this journey and and now this beginning of
[00:10:18] of a new one and so
[00:10:21] You know that's really the question is now that a relationship
[00:10:25] You know has started you know, how does ministry feel different if at all?
[00:10:31] Well
[00:10:32] It does feel different
[00:10:35] in a few ways
[00:10:38] Um throughout ministerial school and training and preparation I didn't know where ministry would take me and
[00:10:46] then
[00:10:47] there was a point when I thought I knew where it would take me and
[00:10:52] that didn't happen and
[00:10:56] So I was licensed in December of 2022 and for quite some time after that I
[00:11:05] I
[00:11:06] Thought I was being open to the possibilities
[00:11:10] And I thought I knew where this path was taking me and that didn't work out as you know
[00:11:20] and I won't go into it here other than to say
[00:11:25] That it was heartbreaking and
[00:11:28] Disappointing and there were a lot more tears again
[00:11:33] and after moving through that
[00:11:39] And deciding to truly be open to where this path takes me
[00:11:45] Has culminated in this new relationship with Portland Center for Spiritual Living and
[00:11:52] them choosing me and me choosing them and
[00:11:55] and soon when I'm actually there making actual commitments to each other it does feel different I
[00:12:06] think it's that
[00:12:08] that milestone of
[00:12:13] Having found a community to serve and to work with and to grow with
[00:12:20] that
[00:12:23] feels really good and really right and
[00:12:28] Exciting and I keep hearing from them how they are
[00:12:34] So thrilled to have found me
[00:12:36] But I tried to remind them that that goes both ways
[00:12:40] I'm just as thrilled to have found them and there's something about that there's been a shift in me in
[00:12:47] inner an inner shift
[00:12:50] About knowing who my community is now and knowing I'm making a commitment to them and what that means and
[00:12:59] That working relationship and that heart connection going forward it does feel different. There's this shift. I'm trying to
[00:13:12] Find a few words to describe the inner change
[00:13:17] it I
[00:13:24] Want to say it feels like I arrived at where I'm supposed to be but at the same time
[00:13:29] I know it's really a beginning of a journey
[00:13:32] So maybe it is I forget the word you use but it is beginning
[00:13:37] Yeah, it feels like I've arrived and I'm just beginning at the same time
[00:13:41] Wow, are you and I think there's a TS LA a quote that says that it's all about arriving
[00:13:46] You know to to where we started in so many different ways that happens over and over again, but I love hearing that
[00:13:53] You know that the the relationship with Portland CSL at some level is
[00:13:58] Born out of a true openness being truly open. I'm true
[00:14:04] I'm sure it's true for them, you know
[00:14:05] And you being a demonstration for them as well, but what a beautiful way to do
[00:14:10] Relationship and I know we only have a you know a couple minutes left
[00:14:13] But I remember early in my ministry
[00:14:17] Taking a job as an assistant minister with a senior minister who was a wonderful person and you know told me that they were
[00:14:24] considering retirement and so, you know the the the
[00:14:27] Jewel was go over and you know hang out and work here for a while
[00:14:30] And then you can take over the senior senior job
[00:14:33] But I think what this person really needed was a good strong assistant minister because I was there about five minutes
[00:14:38] And I think the desire to retire went away
[00:14:41] and I always called it a spiritual slide a hand in
[00:14:45] because I
[00:14:47] Wanted to have taken that job if because of egotistical
[00:14:52] BS reasons within myself
[00:14:54] It was just to be an assistant there had to be this pathway and yet at that time in my ministry
[00:14:59] It was just what I needed to get myself together. You know learn to take care of myself better
[00:15:05] you know form important skills and
[00:15:08] You know for the people that are listening to this, you know to to hear
[00:15:12] You know the importance of dancing that dance the importance when you know
[00:15:18] We don't know how the dance is going to look to be open to it
[00:15:21] you know to trust the divine to speak to us through those tears of calling and
[00:15:26] To realize, you know, it's you know, we all get to make our own story with this whether it's ministry or service or
[00:15:33] Whatever it is in people's lives, you know to follow through and there are parts of the path that can be
[00:15:40] painful and
[00:15:42] Confusing and uncertain, but if we stay open, you know, it's they truly open. It's amazing what can demonstrate itself
[00:15:49] It yes in the pain and the confusing part and the heartbreak I experienced a
[00:15:58] Longness path I
[00:16:02] look back at it now and
[00:16:05] I needed that experience. I don't think I would be as prepared
[00:16:12] And in some way as confident as I feel
[00:16:17] doing this without having had that
[00:16:21] That heartbreaking experience that didn't work out
[00:16:27] Somehow
[00:16:31] Yeah, it really did just open me up to the possibilities and I feel much
[00:16:40] better
[00:16:42] prepared and able
[00:16:44] to
[00:16:47] Give a
[00:16:49] Full bodied and a full hearted and yet fully open yes to the people of Portland CSL
[00:16:57] Then I would have been probably a year ago
[00:17:00] It says if you've been fully initiated for yes
[00:17:04] Yes
[00:17:05] Yes, well predicted just on you know on behalf of mile high church and all of the lives that you've touched here and supported
[00:17:12] All the different ways that you've served here
[00:17:15] We're always your home. You're always a part of us and as you expand your geography
[00:17:20] Just know how grateful we are for you and what a demonstration you've been for
[00:17:25] So many of us here and so we love you. We are with you
[00:17:29] You take the light that you discovered and cultivated here with you there
[00:17:34] And we're just so grateful for you and and so excited to support you in your community
[00:17:39] however, we can in
[00:17:42] realizing your brilliance
[00:17:44] Thank You Josh and
[00:17:46] thank you to you and dr. Michelle for giving me the opportunity to serve here and
[00:17:52] my gratitude
[00:17:54] To my high is just immense from when I first walked in here in 2008 took beyond limits with dr
[00:18:00] Roger all the way through ministerial school and it's been an incredible journey and
[00:18:07] I'm immensely grateful to many many million people here. Thank you
[00:18:13] Is there any way people can follow you or I'm sure they can look up Portland Center for Spirit to Living on Google and find you there
[00:18:20] They can Portland CSL.org
[00:18:24] It's not hard
[00:18:25] It's not difficult Portland CSL org and at some point. I'm sure I'll have a Portland CSL email, but I don't yet have that
[00:18:34] Nice talking with you Bridget. Thank you Josh
[00:18:40] All right, thank you Bobby
[00:18:42] Thank you