The Plan revealed

Brace yourselves, folks, because I'm about to reveal The Plan.

The Plan that you first read about here and that I have mentioned a few times since. The Plan that you are waiting breathlessly to read about... (well maybe not)

The Plan.

I didn't want to spill it before because I hadn't finished/completed the application, which I did last night. Finally.

The whole reason for my trip to Texas next month is that I am applying to a grad school in Dallas in the hope of being accepted for the Fall 2006 semester. The school is having an open house type event for prospective students in March and I want to check things out firsthand, before I commit the next four years of my life.

The school is Dallas Theological Seminary. I want to earn a Masters degree in Theology, from which there are many options. Right now I am leaning toward possibly teaching in the world of university academia, or I could become a pastor. But who knows? This is subject to change.

Now you might be thinking; why this particular school, which is so far away? and Why now? The answers are simple. It is without question one of the best seminaries in the country, offering solid, Biblically based training. and Now is never too soon. If you've read here for any length of time, you should know that sound Biblical interpretation is very important to me. And its reputation is spotless. For a while now, I have had a link to the school's web site in my sidebar, or you can check it out here.

Yes, AG you guessed it last week, as I figured that you might, but it was too early to reveal details of The Plan. And it would have ruined the suspense and... well, the suspense. I know you all have been hanging, with all of your life and with baited breath on what The Plan was/is.

Though I'll have to admit, the super tough part about this whole deal is moving so far away from my kids, who live here in New Hampshire.

Certainly the ex won't move the kids to Dallas just to be close to me, nor would I want or expect her to. If I did, I still might be married, though probably not.

This weekend I got a very small taste of my kids' reaction when I told them what I wanted to do. Needless to say, my daughter V's reaction was not good. My son M's reaction wasn't as bad. Though they are young, presently 8 and 6, I don't expect them to fully understand why I want to do this. Nor is this a permanent thing. It is four years, and I would be back to see them as often as I could manage. Four years in the grand scheme of life is nothing. Plus, while not as good as in person contact, there are other ways of communicating with them, such as phone calls, emails and yes - handwritten letters.

My ex, having the weekend to ponder The Plan, called me last night to voice her concerns and the impact both emotionally and financially it would have on the kids and her, respectively. Her concerns I expected. If this is to work I will find a way to meet them.

I've even found a few Bible passages to reassure me that this is the right decision:

Mark 8:34-38 (NKJV) (see also Luke 9:23-26 for paralell passage)

Take Up the Cross and Follow Him

34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said
to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take
up his cross, and follow Me.

35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.

36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?

37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

and

Matthew 19:23-30 (NKJV) (see also Mark 10:23-31 & Luke 18:24-30 for paralell passages)

With God All Things Are Possible

23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it
is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”

26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

27 Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?”

28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.

30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

but most of all, this:

Matthew 9:35-38 (NKJV) (see also parallel passage in Luke 10:1-12)

The Compassion of Jesus

35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.

37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.

38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

I want to be a laborer.

I have thought for a very long time about doing this, for more than a year actually. Believe it or not, I even mentioned it in my post of New Year's Resolutions. See #4.

This hesitation is also why I likened myself to the Biblical charachter Jonah (if clarification is needed it will be done in another post) in a post I wrote on my tendency to procrastinate.

So that's it in a nutshell. The Plan. There it is, out there for the world to see...

There is a back story to this as well, but that will have to wait for another night.