I remember saying, I'm so sorry, I think I need to go to seminary next year. Her first words

were this. Her first words were, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and this is Ascentia Presents. So you know how, when you're growing up, you have to choose teams. Kickball, dodgeball, softball, basketball, all the balls. And you line up and they have two captains and, okay, who's the one who gets picked who's the one who gets picked last whenever we see an example of someone

getting picked,

there can be this wound in us.

I was thinking about the story of David.

So if you remember the story of David,

I think it's first Samuel chapter 16,

where Samuel is sent by God to Jesse.

Jesse has a bunch of sons.

Jesse's a friend. He's been a good friend of mine. A bunch of sons, and God tells Samuel that one of Jesse's sons is going to be the next king of Israel to replace Saul. And so if you know the story, Samuel shows up and they all come out trembling. Like, what do you want? What do you want from us? And Jesse brings out his sons. He sees Eliaab. Eliab's the oldest and he looks like a king. And the Lord says to Samuel, no, that's not him, not him. The next son, I think I'm bin a dab. I'm in a dab. Not him. Next son, all the next seven sons. Finally, David. And he gets chosen. When you hear that story, who do you identify with? Or even like when it comes to the apostles, right?

Here is... Finally, David, and he gets chosen. When you hear that story, who do you identify with?

Or even like when it comes to the apostles, right?

Here is Jesus who goes up on the high mountain to pray all night.

The next morning he comes down and he chooses from the disciples, he chooses 12 apostles

to be with him, to be sent out by him.

I always think of this question.

Who do you identify with in that story?

Now, if you're someone who's like,

I'm kind of the main character in my life,

you might identify with David.

You might identify with the 12 apostles,

which is fine.

...