My Degree Was a Waste…Both of Them
Both my undergraduate degrees were in theatre and guess what I’m doing now? Not theatre. You could say that it’s like I purchased a $25,000 car and kept it parked in the garage. You could even say that I am entitled to buyer’s remorse but am I bitter…no. Do I believe my degrees were an utter waste of time…absolutely not. Or should I say, I don’t think that anymore. In all honesty my peace about the stacks of student loan debt I have and the two pieces of paper I have to show for it came directly from God. All my life I had been training to be a Broadway actress. That was my goal but the important thing to remember this goal wasn’t even remotely rooted in reality. I came up with this life plan when I was 7 years old and thought that Broadway was a theater in NYC not a street. I took the classes, went to an arts school and majored in theatre in college but during my senior year I made a decision that changed my life forever. I decided to say yes to my husband and no the pursuit of a Broadway career. I traded spots. Instead of preparing monologues for casting calls, I would be the person on the other side of the table. I WISH I could say that when my life went from stage to film I was so excited about it. I WASN’T. Well not initially. I was bitter. I was resentful. I was embarrassed. God why did you give me gifts, encourage me to go to school, pay $25,000 for two pieces of paper just to start a business with my husband? I don’t need a degree to that! I thought I was “called” to theatre so how was I supposed to be carrying out God’s will without theatre. Our youth pastor Bryan Rigg described this situation so perfectly last Sunday. You live life looking at God like a master archer. You’ve got your target in view and God pulls back on the arrow and it flies right over your target. You feel like God missed the mark. But what you don’t realize is 500 feet away God’s actually hit the bull’s eye. It’s not our job to determine what our calling is. God designed us all for a specific purpose and who are we to tell him he got it wrong. Our job is to serve him knowing that EVERYTHING, ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING happens just as God willed it happen.
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6
Our God doesn’t flounder and he doesn’t make mistakes. Your degree. Your debt. That’s in God’s will for you. Here I am almost 3 years later after my husband started our business and I can honestly say…this makes WAY MORE SENSE THAN BROADWAY. I’m actually introverted. People drain me. How on Earth did I think moving to a crowded city was a good idea? I also love the mountains and open spaces. I love my church and I don’t like traffic. I am just where God wants me and it feels good. There is no need to be embarrassed, bitter or resentful because I came out of college a strong woman of God and I know that was no mistake. And I trust that the Lord will continue to sanctify me while I muddle through the process of paying off this debt. Be Free.
Beautiful Words from Saint Theresa (thanks Terry Bodine for pointing this out)
May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you
are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite
possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received,
and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones,
and allow your soul the freedom to sing,
dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.