Higher Education

Reasonably literate and able to coherently hold up my end of most conversations that do not involve the discussion of the atomic weight of cesium, I began to look into expanding my education repertoire and perhaps take some online classes.

The reason for this moment of insanity was sparked by Beth who said bluntly "misery loves company" and since she is buried under an avalanche of homework, she wants me to likewise struggle for breath.

I think the motivation isn't so much that I would be subsumed by the sheer volume of work, but that it would offer me something to do while convalescing after my surgery this summer. At least I hope that is what her motivation is... if the plan is to kill me off by degrees through assignments and projects, then all is indeed lost. Whatever brain cell I might have retained from my college years must certainly be a dried and shriveled little waif. Plus, Beth's gonna look almighty stupid talking to a corpse.

I looked at a couple of schools online. Frankly, there isn't a school that offers what I'd really like to take, which is archaeology. They offer the "related" field of anthropology, which is related like a duck is related to a chicken.

Both tasty, both nice with potatoes and gravy, but not interchangeable.

I looked into the possibility of expanding my biology and sciences background. I even have certifications which would help add to my credits. But then the cold water bath of personal reality set in... where in heaven's name would any of that be useful other than to me, myself and I?

Call it a weakness, but if the only object is to just attend classes, they have a gazillion of those online freebies and podcasts where no credit is offered but you can just learn for the sake of learning. I know, because I've actually done some of them. Oddly enough, they were in archaeology.

It seems so logical to think that learning in and of itself is enough to justify the time, sacrifice and possible budget busting expense involved in attaining to a higher education. Lots of people do so. But at what personal cost is the education gained?

Our eldest son is working towards his first bachelors degree. The sacrifice for him in doing so is considerable. There isn't a lot of time for yanking around and partying, thankfully, he isn't bent that way to begin with, but he tries to be a diligent student in his schooling. Which is a pretty big deal as his opportunity is totally tied to his willingness to work hard and get good grades. Scholarships and grants ride on his success and will be removed if he drops below a certain GPA. That's actually a good thing... motivation usually involves money somehow either directly or indirectly through incentives and outright familial bribery.

But my question still comes back to what would I get the additional schooling in and how would I apply it in a way that would be able to bring glory to God, help my fellowman and in all things be of use?

Sticky wicket to be certain.

With the obligations of care placed upon me by choice and circumstance, would it be fair for me to take on more in a selfish grasp at the brilliance that has thus far eluded me? Would it be fair to do so when my husband, who CAN use the added credits and diploma to advance, should indeed go first? The truth comes down to a very simple equation. To whom it can be of the most benefit, the opportunity should be offered first. Everyone else can wait either for their turn or to be bypassed for a worthier candidate befitting the opportunity.

I like to learn. I try to learn at least one new thing everyday and implement it in some way so that I retain the information. Take for instance, the funeral area in Egypt that has revealed millions of mummified dogs, jackals and puppies offered as sacrifices to Anubis, the jackal-headed god of the dead. I pondered if this expression of substitutiary religious offering of atonement were not somehow a veiled copy of the paschal offerings the Egyptians had seen in the Hebrews who had lived among them. Were they offering what, to the Children of Israel, would be a defiled offering? Or was this a longstanding practice among them in an effort to purchase their safety into the underworld of Anubis?

These and other questions sprung to mind as I weighed the relative merits of various religious expression studied over time. Who is to say that all of these various forms and methods didn't spring from that one couple in the Garden of Eden who begat the family of man? And, although I have made my selection and believe in the One True God and follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, I can see where circumstances and beliefs of various peoples evolved over time. I respect their right to have worship and religious rites and will fight to the death for them to have their own sacred expression. We all lay claim to that privilege of worshiping how, where or what we may. Even if that worship involves dogs.

But education? Is all of our educational worth to be summed up in classrooms, books, assignments and grades? Isn't education a majority of our life's passion? We learn and apply what we have learned either as a stepping stone to something greater or as a momentary understanding which we are now free to cast aside and move beyond. Not everything is a 'keeper' in terms of what goes on in the process.

It is my deepest desire to become more than I am and to be of worth to God, to my family and friends, and to the greater world of neighbors who surround me.

I just am unsure of how to do that and still have time for the essential work that is required at my hands. Time management has never been a strong suit of mine.

In the meantime, I shall continue to glean information the best way I can through the bits, bytes, books and blessings offered to me as they come. Perhaps that will add up to an educational experience that will be of some benefit to those who share my life someday.

I truly hope so.