Because I've recently been having a lot of conversations with people about my plans for the future (which tends to happen when you're a semester away from graduation), and because sleep doesn't seem to be coming any time soon for me tonight, I thought I would update any readers of this blog on my current plans—knowing, of course, that the man in relationship with God ought to wink a little whenever he discusses the plans he's created for himself.

My last post was a prayer that I had to write and pray in order to find the confidence to finally push "Submit" on my applications to ACU Graduate School of Theology, Duke Divinity School, and Yale Divinity School. I'm after a Master of Divinity, a robust three-year degree that covers everything from Greek to church history to theology to different kinds of ministry and is often described as being as spiritually forming as it is academically equipping (if one will let it be). Various experiences have revealed to me that I feel most alive, useful, and "this-is-what-I-was-created-for" when I am teaching, so my ultimate aim is to complete doctoral work and become a professor (of biblical text? of theology? I'm not sure yet) or—at the very least—find some other outlet to fulfill that teaching vocation (and I'm using "vocation" here more in the sense of "identity" than in "career").

The three schools I've applied to are very diverse, but all have so much to offer a budding minister. I'm presently thinking that I will engage in some kind of hands-on ministry before I teach full-time, but I'm uncertain about what exactly that will be (though I do have some strong leanings). Obviously, there's a lot that goes into a decision about grad school: finances, living situations, aspirations, and, oh yeah, getting accepted, so it will be a long time before I'm able to give a definitive answer about where I'll be come September. (Let me reiterate: when I say "give a definitive answer," I am winking heavily, as I just don't think that definitive answers about the future are a luxury given to followers of God.)

I must say that God has been giving me the enormous grace of having a peace about my future plans. As I continue to pray the prayer I wrote, I am really starting to believe ("believe" in the sense that it affects my emotions and not just my intellect) that God will be with me wherever I go and will be active in my life.