Comments on: What I Should Have Been Doing

By: Anthony Velez

Anthony Velez — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:33:51 +0000

John – I agree with you, but you know how it is in the complexity of our human existence. I can at once hold to the value of not living with regret, not being beat up with shoulds, and yet feeling the shoulds knocking on my heart’s door. Overall, I realize that often we are not in the right place internally and externally to see, learn, or receive something, until we are actually in that place, and that’s just how it is. So, on some level I had to go through the different experiences I went through to come the place where I can see what my passion is, and how my talents and experiences are indicating what my calling is. Along with this, I realize that in many ways I had to go through what I went through in order to develop the kind of convictions and understanding that will become an integral part of my voice in scholarship and writing.

In the mean time, what I do see is that nothing can really stop my education, except for myself. I have the tools and skills needed to educate myself in my field of burgeoning interest, and begin to equip myself for that time when I can enter into a doctorate program. Moreover, in order for me to be the kind of professor and scholar that I want to be in the future, I must practice fidelity in the things (big and small) that God has set before me now. It is like Jesus said, ultimately our bread is God’s will. Everything else is junk food.

By: John Espino

John Espino — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:26:32 +0000

Yo Bro….

Don’t “Should” on yourself, as that “Should” road creates false guilt, lends itself to discontentment, and then takes you to “auto-row” looking for convertible sports cars….:)

Thanks for your honesty and transparency that I think most middle aged men can relate with, if they were being truly honest. I should have gone to clown college and have been touring with Ringling Brothers…..well at least that’s what my kids tell me I shoudl have been doing.

Doing, Being, legacy, accomplishing……20 year reunions, 25 year reunions….How about “one day at a time” and resting in HIM…..Yah…that’s what I will do today. Let’s focus on that JOhn.. Good job….”It is what it is” …..Oh by the way, that phrase is taken as a web domain…Darn!

Hope all is well bro…..By the way, The Seabring convertible is my fav…

By: Simon Jones

Simon Jones — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 23:21:35 +0000

Anthony, you have joined my ‘friends over 40′ club. It’s getting less and less exclusive these days and I’m going to be there soon enough myself. I guess soon enough I’ll have more friends over 40 than under 40 at which point I’ll have to create a couple of new clubs, ‘friends under 40′ and ‘friends over 60′ – I’m going to miss the 50 milestone to give us all some breathing room

I’m looking forward to spending some time with you next month dude!

By: Anthony Velez

Anthony Velez — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 23:20:56 +0000

Roger – thanks for the word, and I did read 1 Cor 12 in response to your suggestion. I have to add, however, that I am not actually trying to figure out what my gifting and calling is, as it has become clear to me that my forte is theology and Church history. My struggle currently is that in order to get a job teaching such things at the college level I have to get a doctorate degree, and at this point in my life that would be quite a balancing act. So, I am primarily looking for provision (the time, the opportunity, and the money) to finish what I have started.

By: Roger Green

Roger Green — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:04:44 +0000

When I was in a group Bible study oh 12, 13 years ago, we got into the Pauline discussion of our various gifts in 1 Corinthians 12: gift of discernment, gift of the Word, etc. It helped me somewhat in deciding what NOT to do.
Read it again, maybe with some interpretations, and see where the Spirit might lead you.