Yesterday I graduated from Central Michigan University.
Today I start a blog.
You may have noticed that the main title is "Uneducated." Such a title may seem odd to describe somebody who just graduated from college. But it is such an appropriate title.
I am still so young even if I claim to be an old man. As we grow up we are constantly shown that we're not young anymore. I've been through pre-school, elementary school, middle school, high school, and college. I've "graduated" often. I've graduated on average every 4.4 years. Less than a year ago I thought I'd be going to seminary in the fall. I am not. But if I was I'd be graduating... again... three years from now. That would've bumped me down to graduating every 4.1 years of my life. At that point I might as well get a PhD just to knock the average to under 4. Each graduation marks a new segment of my life. Within these segments there are more segments. Turning the big one oh. A decade of life. My 16th birthday and getting the freedom to drive. Turning 18 and getting the freedom to do (almost everything else). Two decades of life. Finally, 21 years old and given full rights as a citizen. If you combine all of these segments I've gone through so many events in my 22 years on this Earth that I'm averaging something big to celebrate every couple of years.
My most recent celebration was yesterday. Again, I feel old. So many big things to celebrate over my life. How could I not feel old. As I've gotten older the celebrations have happened more rapidly. In the last 8 years I've had 7 big things to celebrate just between important birthdays and graduations.
Yet I am young. According to the average life expectancy of a man in the United States I'm not quite 30% through life. I'm just getting started.
So what does this all mean for a new college graduate?
It means I know absolutely nothing. I've studied my entire life up to this point and yet I know I haven't even come close to learning everything I'll know at the end of my life.
This blog is a record of my reflections on my journey, and education from here on out.
I may someday return to a formal education for a Masters of Divinity. But until then I look forward to learning what the world can teach me.
In a few weeks I'll be moving to Detroit where I'll work this summer in ministry with some really great people helping to mend our city in whatever ways we can.
In August I'll be moving again. Right now I have no idea where I'll be headed but I know it'll be somewhere incredible. Wherever it is, I will spend two years there serving as a missionary.
I invite you to read my story, and the stories of the incredible people I meet along the way.
In my graduation I have not begun a new chapter in my life. Life isn't as simple as a book.
No, instead I've begun new chapters. A multiplicity of new stories each deserving of their own chapter in my life, all happening at once, and all intertwining together. Complexity at its best.
Life couldn't be more beautiful.
Today I start a blog.
You may have noticed that the main title is "Uneducated." Such a title may seem odd to describe somebody who just graduated from college. But it is such an appropriate title.
I am still so young even if I claim to be an old man. As we grow up we are constantly shown that we're not young anymore. I've been through pre-school, elementary school, middle school, high school, and college. I've "graduated" often. I've graduated on average every 4.4 years. Less than a year ago I thought I'd be going to seminary in the fall. I am not. But if I was I'd be graduating... again... three years from now. That would've bumped me down to graduating every 4.1 years of my life. At that point I might as well get a PhD just to knock the average to under 4. Each graduation marks a new segment of my life. Within these segments there are more segments. Turning the big one oh. A decade of life. My 16th birthday and getting the freedom to drive. Turning 18 and getting the freedom to do (almost everything else). Two decades of life. Finally, 21 years old and given full rights as a citizen. If you combine all of these segments I've gone through so many events in my 22 years on this Earth that I'm averaging something big to celebrate every couple of years.
My most recent celebration was yesterday. Again, I feel old. So many big things to celebrate over my life. How could I not feel old. As I've gotten older the celebrations have happened more rapidly. In the last 8 years I've had 7 big things to celebrate just between important birthdays and graduations.
Yet I am young. According to the average life expectancy of a man in the United States I'm not quite 30% through life. I'm just getting started.
So what does this all mean for a new college graduate?
It means I know absolutely nothing. I've studied my entire life up to this point and yet I know I haven't even come close to learning everything I'll know at the end of my life.
This blog is a record of my reflections on my journey, and education from here on out.
I may someday return to a formal education for a Masters of Divinity. But until then I look forward to learning what the world can teach me.
In a few weeks I'll be moving to Detroit where I'll work this summer in ministry with some really great people helping to mend our city in whatever ways we can.
In August I'll be moving again. Right now I have no idea where I'll be headed but I know it'll be somewhere incredible. Wherever it is, I will spend two years there serving as a missionary.
I invite you to read my story, and the stories of the incredible people I meet along the way.
In my graduation I have not begun a new chapter in my life. Life isn't as simple as a book.
No, instead I've begun new chapters. A multiplicity of new stories each deserving of their own chapter in my life, all happening at once, and all intertwining together. Complexity at its best.
Life couldn't be more beautiful.
