path_of_one
Embracing the Mystery
Oh, I hope so Dondi. I have wanted to do whatever God's work is for me since I was a child, but I get sidetracked in the meantime of waiting. Then, the pressures of the world creep in- to advance in the career you're in.
I realized recently that I was not attracted to anthropology for the theory or the research, but rather because of its capacity to help me teach others to stop fearing each other, to understand one another, to love each other.
I concluded that the reason I loved teaching as a graduate student was not because I wanted to teach anthropology per se, but because I saw students come to a place of understanding- of other people. As their fear ended, their curiosity and then love could grow. As they better understood the world's problems, their sense of empowerment could grow. My favorite, most fulfilling times, were in counseling single students or small groups after class that spontaneously formed to talk about religion, or their lives, or whatever. When students who had troubles sorted them out, or those that struggled with the work gained basic skills for life, and especially when those who came in afraid of other people came out with an appreciation and love for the world... I felt like my work made a difference, not only in education (or even primarily so) but on a spiritual level.
Now, I have a full-time job outside anthropology in a corporation, and I'm grateful to pay all my bills, but it doesn't "fit" right. I haven't a clue where I am headed. Hopefully, God will guide me to where I'm supposed to be.
I realized recently that I was not attracted to anthropology for the theory or the research, but rather because of its capacity to help me teach others to stop fearing each other, to understand one another, to love each other.
I concluded that the reason I loved teaching as a graduate student was not because I wanted to teach anthropology per se, but because I saw students come to a place of understanding- of other people. As their fear ended, their curiosity and then love could grow. As they better understood the world's problems, their sense of empowerment could grow. My favorite, most fulfilling times, were in counseling single students or small groups after class that spontaneously formed to talk about religion, or their lives, or whatever. When students who had troubles sorted them out, or those that struggled with the work gained basic skills for life, and especially when those who came in afraid of other people came out with an appreciation and love for the world... I felt like my work made a difference, not only in education (or even primarily so) but on a spiritual level.
Now, I have a full-time job outside anthropology in a corporation, and I'm grateful to pay all my bills, but it doesn't "fit" right. I haven't a clue where I am headed. Hopefully, God will guide me to where I'm supposed to be.