When I grow up...

Being in the Navy has placed me in an interesting predicament. Essentially, once I'm retired, I can do anything I want to do. Since I, lord willing, will have a steady income from my retirement, I will be "free" to pursue anything I want to, as long as I can bring in a sufficient income to pay for what we need to pay for.

In a general sense, I want to be a pastor. Having that retirement income puts me in a position to take less money from a church, so I'd be suitable to a small church or as a missions pastor...something along those lines. There was a time, not too long ago, where I wanted to preach to a huge audience, but I think I'm passed that now. I think that mentoring a small number of guys, and preaching/teaching consistently to them over a deployment and other situations has led me to understand that a small church body isn't bad...it's just what my prideful heart needs.

Part of me, however, loves the idea of intense research along the lines of what I did for my recent Systematic Theology course. My pastor has already informed me that I'd be sadly mistaken if I thought being a pastor meant that I could study theology for hours a day and I believe him. This puts me more along the lines of a seminary professor or an author.

The bottom line is that I don't know exactly what I want to be when I grow up, which is in slightly more than six years from now. I'm grateful for the time to think through this, to seek God's will for my life, and to learn from pastors, missionaries, and professors. God is preparing me for his future for me, for those good works he foreordained. I need to be content where I am and yet soak up everything possible. It's an odd position to be in, but I'm getting used to it.

So if you're still in school, what do you want to be when you grow up? Or maybe you're already "grown up" but don't like where you are...what are your dreams?

9 comments:

Stephanie Kay said...

Joel doesn't know what he wants to be when he "grows up" either. :) He sort of fell into computer programming 12 years ago. It's not he dream job but it provides an income for us to accomplish other dreams.

As for me, I'm living my dream job - being a stay-at-home, home schooling mom. That's not to say my life is a dream, but I can't imagine doing anything else right now. In about 20 years I hope to be living another dream - teaching and writing for women.

Don the Baptist said...

You're gonna feel REEEEEEEEAL comfortable when you visit my church.

The Navy Christian said...

Stephanie: I sympathize with Joel, as I'm sure most men do. I think it's part of the curse, to be honest. The sweat of our brow stops us from being content with our work. That's the subject for a different blog post I'm sure.

Don: I mean to send you some dates, but I'm waiting on my ship to give out the new duty schedule for the New Year. We're switching to a new rotation for our overhaul period. But from the pictures I saw, it definitely looks like I'd be at home in your church.

Don the Baptist said...

OVERHAUL!? Drydock or pierside? Ah, I remember crawling through the bowels of the boiler, scraping rust. Those were the days.

Sure, let me know when things line up.

The Navy Christian said...

Well, my dad would be upset to hear this, but we don't crawl through the ship looking for rust anymore. We pay civilians to do most of that now while we all go off to school to learn the updated system they are installing. I won't be there for the entire overhaul anyway as we transfer by September of next year. Just don't know exactly when we'll leave or where we're going yet.

iMark said...

Even though I already grown up (don't ask my wife). I am pursuing pastoral ministry. I hope the Lord would bless me in such a way.

The Navy Christian said...

I won't ask your wife if you won't ask mine! LOL! I would say that you've got a head start on me for sure. You're blog definitely does! Anyway, I share your desire to be in ministry. I look forward to reading more in the future.

Jin-roh said...

Hehe... Yeah Pastor's don't have much time to study theology.

How exactly is the Navy taking care of you? I are they paying for you current degree?

The Navy Christian said...

Liberty University has capped their tuition at the same amount as the military Tuition Assistance level, so yes, the Navy is basically paying for my school. As long as I don't take more than five classes a year, I won't have to pay out of pocket for the class. Books are still my responsibility.