Where am I going in life? What is it that I am to do? As I have said in the past my life has undergone various changes of late, which rather than helping figure out the path that is before me has just made it that much more mysterious.
When I decided I wanted to go and try for an M.Div I was at Graceland University. I had planed on going strait to grad school and start working on it. Now by the time I graduated I thought that I might take a year off and then go to school.
It ended up that I went to school the following fall(2003). The program I was in could have been done in 3 years. That would mean that right now I should be in the first half of my final year right?
Nope…
I left that school part way through the second semester. Then enrolled in at a new school. This program being a longer one of 4 years, though theoretically possible to do in three it is designed as a 4 year program. I decided not to try an transfer any credits over. The result I started all over. So I should be in the start of my second year right? and on track to graduate in spring 2008?
Nope, do to various events and decisions I made, the earliest I could have graduated was fall 2008. Then I became ill, and had to withdraw, pushing it to winter 2009. Then the realization of having to take a year off to heal… Now Winter 2010 is probably the earliest I can archive this degree.
This bugs me a lot for several reasons.
- I turn 29 in Oct 2010
- I will be in much more debt than if I had gone straight through in 3-4-5 years.
- It will be almost 7 years to get a 3-4 year degree
- I had enough credits to graduate HS after 3 years (though not all the required classes)
- I graduated with a BA in 3 years (though stressed my self out to much)
and there are probably more.
I am starting to wonder if this is the path I need to go. I know I need the experience of the education. That is something I know beyond any doubt, bu I wonder, “Is this the degree I should be perusing?” I could probably transfer over to Community of Christ Seminary and get a Masters in Christian Ministry ( a 2 year degree). I might be able to transfer some credits over, and could start an on line course this spring.
The credits are less expensive, and I would need less of them. Right now I don’t think it is set up for full time study, but if I was able to transfer some credits over I might be able to be done in two years…. But I want my M.Div. Though if I went this route I might be more inclined to work towards an D.Min or PhD soon afterwards…
Then no mater which way I go there is a question about what next.
My dream is to serve in the church as a full time minister. The problem is right now, unless there is a change in giving trends Community of Christ will be cutting around 1/4 of its ministerial positions around the globe at the end of 2006. Which doesn’t make the prospects of working for the church full time look good. Though it is still a possibility.
Another route I have thought about was serving as a chaplain in the Navy. If it wasn’t for a few things that make it impossible right now, I would have considered going into chaplain candidacy program. If I had been able to I would be able to get up to 3,000 a year towards school plus paid as an officer during my summers. This would help out on the finical side of things. I pretty sure that even if the hurdles that prevented me from exploring this avenue much further were to be removed that with all that has gone on with me since March, that I now medical conditions, that even when I’m “back to normal” would prevent this avenue.
I have hopes that eventually I will be able to serve as a full time minister within Community of Christ. I also have hope that as the giving trends over the next year will reverse and and no one will find their position cut at the end of 2006.
So right now I sit here and type knowing a few things.
- I have a life long call to ministry
- Part of my call is to continue my education
- That education is not going how I had planed
- How I will provided for my basic needs (food, clothing shelter..) and pay back these loans, after I am finally done, I have no clue…
Well that’s all for now, I need to get to bed so I’m rested for church in the morning.
Peace to all,
— Lyle II