Look at the number of times “I” appears in your comment and in the post above which you have written. It seems clear that this desire to go into academia because you find such a life attractive comes more from yourself than from God.
What is the difference? I am not certain that God cares much about what I do and more about how…do justice, love mercy, walk humbly…the rest is up to us. Does God want me to get a PhD? I have no idea. But I think that question is a distraction. I thought God wanted me to be a pastor. I went to seminary. I served churches. I am no longer doing that work. Why? It just didn’t work out. “Following God” in an economy in free fall is foolish. It’s a kind of lie.
Feel this. A masters and PHD has always been a goal of mine. Still working slowly through my BS and working and raising kids though. Maybe in my forties?
I could care less whether the PhD will get you or anyone else anywhere. The point is this: Does God want you to do it? Are you called to to it.? It sounds to me like you feel that you are called. So test that to tsee if others confirm it. Does a professor you would work under confirm it? Does a university confirm it? Does the world of enthnomusicology need you to do it? Is theere a gap you are meant to fill? Who knows, maybe your writing a PhD thesis will change the culture as the straw that breaks the camel's back, shifting the minds of the supreme leaders who are destroying our land, air, and water. (It's not true that I don't care whether the PhD will get someone anywhere. I place the burdnens of the solutions of the problems of our day on your dissertation. Write it with that passion and imagination and it will be good no matter what impact it has on the world.
To scratch the itch to change the world, which the Beatles say we all want to do, I write poetry. If the dissertation thing doesn't work out, write poetry, even though no one wants to read it. It works for me, to think that I am ahead of my time and that someday it will have an impact.
I might have told you before, that it took me until I was almost 60 to discover my true calling. After teaching for several years, I ended up working in the medical field. Starting with office work, transcribing, calling patients, learning to read x-rays (and getting really good at it) and eventually being the face and voice of the office. After 20 years it was time to quit. Discovered prison ministry and have now been doing it for 17 years. It has been a blessing for me and for the inmates. I am their "church Mom."
Would Jesus take the time/energy to get a Ph.D.?
He didn’t need one. #wunderkind
And neither do you. Imitating Christ doesn’t mean spending years of life toiling in academia.
But I *like* academia. It’s arduous and cruel at times, but I have a good therapist. LOL
Look at the number of times “I” appears in your comment and in the post above which you have written. It seems clear that this desire to go into academia because you find such a life attractive comes more from yourself than from God.
What is the difference? I am not certain that God cares much about what I do and more about how…do justice, love mercy, walk humbly…the rest is up to us. Does God want me to get a PhD? I have no idea. But I think that question is a distraction. I thought God wanted me to be a pastor. I went to seminary. I served churches. I am no longer doing that work. Why? It just didn’t work out. “Following God” in an economy in free fall is foolish. It’s a kind of lie.
Imitating Jesus and following the way of the prophets is never foolish.
Feel this. A masters and PHD has always been a goal of mine. Still working slowly through my BS and working and raising kids though. Maybe in my forties?
I could care less whether the PhD will get you or anyone else anywhere. The point is this: Does God want you to do it? Are you called to to it.? It sounds to me like you feel that you are called. So test that to tsee if others confirm it. Does a professor you would work under confirm it? Does a university confirm it? Does the world of enthnomusicology need you to do it? Is theere a gap you are meant to fill? Who knows, maybe your writing a PhD thesis will change the culture as the straw that breaks the camel's back, shifting the minds of the supreme leaders who are destroying our land, air, and water. (It's not true that I don't care whether the PhD will get someone anywhere. I place the burdnens of the solutions of the problems of our day on your dissertation. Write it with that passion and imagination and it will be good no matter what impact it has on the world.
Tripp:
To scratch the itch to change the world, which the Beatles say we all want to do, I write poetry. If the dissertation thing doesn't work out, write poetry, even though no one wants to read it. It works for me, to think that I am ahead of my time and that someday it will have an impact.
I might have told you before, that it took me until I was almost 60 to discover my true calling. After teaching for several years, I ended up working in the medical field. Starting with office work, transcribing, calling patients, learning to read x-rays (and getting really good at it) and eventually being the face and voice of the office. After 20 years it was time to quit. Discovered prison ministry and have now been doing it for 17 years. It has been a blessing for me and for the inmates. I am their "church Mom."