What I am pondering now is why the heck I just signed up to write a 30,000 word thesis when I had no intention of doing so. I am crazy. But to back track ….
Two weeks ago I promised some more on my life message on Grace. However last week I had four nights in a row out at church meetings and so by Thursday when I should have blogged , the most I was up for was sitting on the couch watching Madagascar with my little nephews. If you have taken time to read my blog – I want you to read something worthwhile – not dribble I write, over tired. Grace will re-appear later I am sure.
Back to the thesis – I am completing my MTh and had a fairly straight forward two courses to complete. However the College where I did my MA has recently put up a MTh and to be honest I really like studying with them. They are from the same faith tradition where the place I was doing my MTh is not, I thought it didn’t matter but turns out it does.
So I transferred back to where I did my MA. However in their course structure I have to do a thesis to complete. I am totally intimidated and unsure of my ability to do this. I am a practitioner not an academic. However I want to study with lecturers I know and trust; people who have a real walk with God and I can pick up the phone and call.
Most of all – at 50 I want to do something that I am terrified of. I want to keep challenging myself so I don’t get comfortable – which is too easy to do.
I also realised that I can’t keep challenging my students to walk on water if I stay on the solid ground I so enjoy. I am doing it afraid. I may well fail – but as they say in that great theological movie Meet the Robinson’s – “in failing you learn, in success not so much” . I suspect I will learn much.
It is so important that as ministers and leaders we don’t get so good at dealing with other people’s issues that we don’t deal with our own. As my brother said to me this week “other peoples problems are so much easier to solve”.
When our biggest challenges are juggling other people’s challenges, it is an unusual life.
I dont believe I can inspire or encourage people to do something if I am not challenging myself. We need to be good steward of the gifts and strengths God gave us. We need to keep taking steps of faith that challenge us.
For me this year (or maybe 18 months ) it is writing a 30,000 word thesis. For some of you it is something much more challenging and life changing.
Lets keep being people who walk on the water ! What are you doing this year to challenge yourself ?
*sharpens the red pencil*
Go you!!
Should have checked in with my editor before enrolling !
Oh my gosh!! That is so good! I have no doubt that your paper will be inspired and I’m believing with you that it will actually come together so easily, you will be shocked. Thank you for writing whenever you do. You are blessing people far beyond your reach. Your blog is one of my favorite things to forward to encourage other leaders.
So kind Amy ! THank you