Tag Archives: college

•

2014-5If there was anything that needed doing in 2014 today is our last chance to do it. I have no regrets.

I planned to retire in March and, after celebrating 25 years of service in January, did just that on March 14th.

I set out to tour Uganda, where God has called me to prepare to work as a missionary nurse. In April, my precious bride and I set out and met our future home as well as some very dear friends we made while in that country. There, God gave us a glimpse into what our future will hold and a burning desire to drive toward that mission.

I planned to return to school as a full-time student, tackling that fear which kept me from getting a college education all these years. I marched through the doors of my classes, made myself at home, and achieved higher marks than I ever imagined I could and made some friends who will be accompanying me in my preparatory track for nursing school and perhaps beyond.

I committed to develop my physical training program to include more than the rudimentary getting off the couch three times a week, and in March bought my first pair of running shoes. With training and a coaching mobile application, I progressed to a 5k then 10k run, then graduated on my own and finished the year by running my first half marathon.

I committed to getting a rein on my finances, and my bride and I have graduated from Mvelopes financial coaching “boot camp” and are well on our way to paying off our debts. The exception to this is a new student loan, which I obtained to meet the needs of this year’s tuition costs while both of us were briefly unemployed.

I renewed my commitment to do my part to maintain my weight and, as of this day, God has held me steady at my goal weight for three years and two hundred two days.

 

Looking ahead, I hope to keep up my grade point average. The adult 4.0 still balances against the sins of my youth to end up somewhere in the high 3s. I plan to graduate with my associate of arts degree following the summer term, during which I will also apply and (God willing) be accepted into nursing school. The fun will really begin in the fall term of 2015, when I hope to be a full-fledged nursing student. Allegedly those are creatures without social lives, forced into isolated study. I will be approaching it as a spiritual exercise, tackling each next obstacle as a fulfillment of my calling.

As for the rest, I am looking forward to keeping on doing what I am doing: seeking God’s purposes in my daily life and fulfilling them to the best of my ability; harming none I don’t have to and helping as many as I have the opportunity and resource; building myself and others up and abstaining from behaviors that would tear me or them down. In 2015 I want to leave the world better than I found it in 2014.

•

DoNot Lose HeartTherefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. (2 Corinthians 4:1, NRSV)

I found this in the New Testament in a year reading our local congregation was challenged to follow this year, and needed to publicly confess it, highlight it, bookmark it, and remember it.

•

study stressCindy and I have spent much of the last two days pouring over my class schedules, seeking to optimize my collegiate expenditures of time and money.

After developing a plan, I marched into my guidance adviser's office this morning to get her approval.  There, I received both encouragement and constructive criticism of our laboriously developed plan.  The great reminder was: when it comes to nursing school, many apply but few are chosen.  I was cautioned to craft my academic schedule to facilitate the best study patterns and the highest grades.  "Straight As is what it takes to get in!" my counselor advised.  She told me the fact that I am male and no longer a teenager were points in my favor, but said my "minority" status was no guarantee of admission.

She also gave me some sound wisdom concerning plans and contingencies.  Where I had whittled out every class I might not need, she encouraged me to take the ones I might need, in case I am accepted into this school but not that.   I tweaked my schedule, adding classes I celebrated dropping the night before, and penciling in future ones I had hoped I could avoid, just to keep my options open.

The bottom line is this: pending timely acceptance into either the nearby University or my current community college in the Fall of 2015, I should (God willing) graduate with my Bachelor's of Science in Nursing at the end of Summer, 2017.  I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, but at least the tunnel is dug.

Okay, God, the gopher wood for this ark is stacked and the blueprints are dry.  I've got a long way to go before sailing day and there's not a cloud in the sky.  I'm counting on You for the resources and the outcomes.  Help me to be diligent and honorable as I set about Your purpose.