January 17, 2010

Next Year for Me

I have much to say. Many things to write of. I apologize for not keeping up with my blog. And I won't say I'm going to make an effort to try and start keeping up with it now, because I probably won't.

Today I heard an interesting sermon that made me think. A few days ago, I decided what I'm going to be doing next year instead of college. A few days ago I watched what has become one of my favorite movies. For my Great Books class I've been reading Alexander Pope, who has been most stimulating. I played my first real set with my good friend Joshua Lagan, the debut performance of our collaborative musical project "Diary" a week ago. Aside from all that, I've been doing some interesting thinking. So in a nutshell, that's January for me. Each of those topics is at least a post in itself, if not several, so I'm wondering what I should post about for starters.

Perhaps the shortest is what I'm going to be doing next year… Anyone who reads this blog probably knows (and if you don't I'm telling you) that I've been fairly certain for a fairly long while that I do not want to attend a college. At least not right after highschool. The first reason is that it costs an exorbitant amount of money, and I for one do not want to go into any debt unless absolutely necessary (which I feel is a Christian sentiment). Now perhaps if there was something I really wanted to pursue in college I could justify spending all that money and going into debt. For example, if I wanted to become a doctor, or a lawyer. But there is nothing I feel a strong motivation to pursue that I would need a college degree for, so I doubly cannot justify spending all that money for nothing. If ever I have a strong desire to do something that requires a college education, and if I feel God is directing me in such a way, I have no aversion to pursuing the education and degree necessary. But at this point, I definitely do not see God leading me there. And I wholeheartedly agree with him in that.

If there are any parents who read this blog (I don't know if there are any, but I think there might be a few…) then I plead with you to try and break away from the culture in your thinking here. Don't get boxed in and assume that your kids go off to college after highschool, because that's just what everyone does. There doesn't have to be a reason anymore, that's just the next step everyone takes. Well, that's all fine and good, but what a waste of time and money that can never be gotten back. I mean, how many people do you know who don't use their college degree in what they work in now? I know many fathers with whom that is the case. On the other hand, don't think I'm trying to convince people not to attend college… by all means if you feel God is leading you there, or if you feel that's the next step for you. But go with a reason. Go with a purpose. A very specific purpose. And don't just mindlessly go through the cultural norm. It exasperates and upsets me to no end when I see people doing things they haven't thought through, just… well… 'because'. And even worse when they're closed about it. Anyways. I digress.

So all that to say, I'm not going to college next year. I have felt God's been telling me this for a year or two now… some people (well, ok many people) have been a little wary and disconcerted by this decision, but I was laughing just yesterday about this. Because I've been very clear in saying "God will lead me down the path he wishes me to trod. All I have to do is listen and follow where he leads." I've been praying lately that God would show me the next step, and he has answered my prayers in a way that I don't deserve. It feels good when you trust in God and tell people that he won't let you down even when they're raising their eyebrows, and then God goes and doesn't let you down. Do you know how good that feels? If you don't, I'm telling you now that it's a most wonderful feeling.

I was invited by the teacher of my online classes (The teacher of Schola Tutorials, Wesley Callihan), who has been a very good friend and teacher over the past four years of highschool, to come and study at his house next school year. I suppose one could call it very very loosely a college of sorts, but a couple students will be staying there (four, I believe) and studying Greek, Latin, Great Literature, and in general doing classical studies, thinking, writing. They live on a farm out in the middle of nowhere in Idaho, so it will be a most wonderful quiet place to contemplate and discern the next step God wants me to take. I'm taking Mr. Callihan up on his offer, so if God wills, that's what I'll be doing next year.

Wow. That was a lot longer that I thought it was going to be. But there you have it. Next I think I shall post about the movie, which I'm going to watch again tonight with Sam.