I remember sitting next to my friend, Matt Engle, at our Southeastern University commencement ceremony. It was 2001, and we were about to celebrate the fact that we had completed our course of study in the area of Pastoral Ministry. After sixteen straight years in school, I leaned over to Matt and said, “We never have to do another research paper ever again!” What a glorious moment.
The last nine years have been full of life changing moments. Marriage. Children. Full time ministry. Starting two churches. Spiritual growth through personal and corporate studying of the Bible. And I find my appetite for learning increasing each year.
I want to go back to school. I know, I know. I told Matt we’d never have to do another paper. But it’s different now at thirty years old as opposed to my late teens and early twenties. I want to learn. I want to grow. I want to research and be challenged. Who knows when the time may come. I’ve got a handful of applications to master’s degree programs in my office filing cabinet. One of them will eventually be filled out.
Find your area of passion and chase it down. Never settle for where you are today. It doesn’t have to be at a four year university or a graduate program. But never stop desiring to grow. What can you do today to challenge yourself?
Never stop learning.
