Own Your Education

I'm sure you have heard the same story a million times over. The one about how someone was a terrible student until they figured out what they wanted to do in life and eventually became a model student. When we can identify something we are interested in doing and want to pursue it as a career, we own our education. We want to read every boook and take every class that is offered on the topoc. It's like a light bulb clicked on or the sun, moon, stars, and all the planets came into alignment. It is hard to fathom that we will actually get paid to do this. This is my story as well. However, it seems that after we graduate, begin our career, start a family, etc. our passion begins to wane. What once peaked our interest us has now become all too familiar. What used to excite us has now become a routine. Unfortunately, we stop learning and growing. We know longer create or imagine. We stop dreaming about the difference we are going to make in our workplace, community, and world. Life becomes mundane. 

Learning is a discipline that we must continue to pursue and fight to keep. Growing in our knowledge and understandings on subjects of interest can be life changing. In my experience, life can be a drag when I am not stretching myself. Life can be unfulfilled when I am stuck in a routine of work, dinner, television, and sleep. However, what I have found out about myself is this: if I don't own my education, then I won't learn anything. In other words, if I am forced to read a book or learn about a subject, I will go through the motions and jump through the hoops to meet the requirements. But, if I take the initiative to own what I am learning and apply it to my life, then I find myself fully engrossed in the subject.

Recently, I came across a book (click here for my book review) that has me on a journey of stretching myself as I discern my belief system and how it forces me to think and live out my life. In a way, it has brought to life some of my senses that have laid dormant for some time. After I am finished with this book I will be making further investigation into the claims the author is making. What really stinks is that I am supposed to be reading some other books at this time as I seek ordination through our church's denomination. There are some good books that I am required to read, but not really on the topics I prefer. Again, I am not owning my education in that regards. Maybe its the left over residue from taking 10 years to finish my bachelor and associate degrees and I am tired of being told what to read! Oh well, I guess that is why I read more than one book at a time!!