A Cry for Kelp

Recently this beautiful ocean (life) has seemed to expand for me.

I concede this change is largely one of gaining new perspectives, rather than anything physical, just as an avid diver has a far different take on the term "depths of the sea" considering their experience.

Since my first week as the greenest freshman on the college campus, I have admired those students who already appeared to have found their passion or career. Seeing their happy, genuine confidence has prodded into existence a question which has dogged my footsteps to this very minute. With persistence and determination surpassing even the best Vivint alarm sales rep, I have long since grown weary of it's routine, circuitous path through my conscious.

I would give my left arm (something a great white would happily arrange) to never again become introspective asking, "what should I do for a career?"

Before I continue one more league, I want to openly recognize the ocean-sized blessing of having the mental and physical faculties, as well as the freedom to choose virtually any profession or career under the sun. (Sun is used intentionally, because working graveyard is NOT a faculty I possess.) Perhaps my friends who occasionally argue for arranged marriages would be less prone to blow the whistle on my ingratitude, as they too have confronted the conundrum of almost unbounded agency.

I see two clear, well-marked paths before me. Neither one evil and both having a distinct appeal. On one hand I could view my career as a means to an end. Should I pursue a career wholly based on it's ability to give me the money and time I want to raise my family and serve others? Or is work the means whereby I render a significant amount of the service I hope to accomplish throughout my life? By following the latter I would predictably come across much broader opportunities to serve, whilst the former affords a more flexible family and personal schedule. Above all I wish to be the worlds greatest Dad. But what if I am capable of being that kind of father and impacting my community on a deeper level too?

Perhaps I am just muddying the waters. Perhaps you see right through the kelp bed to Atlantis herself and my ocean-enlarging perspective could use a second set of goggles. But swimming through this with you may have cleared up the waters a bit already.

D